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22/6/2023

“Capra, Capella, Hircine Queen: you are She whose cloven feet are the drums conjuring forth flame and torrent, whose horns graze the sky and draw down the swift howls of the storm. I ask not for mercy— only deliverance from fear, that I may stand tall amid the downpour, unflinching as the whip-crack of thunder crashes through dark clouds.Just because there are storms on the horizon does not mean one should cease sailing. I know this— for I have passed through the storm and lived. O Castor and Pollux: you lanterns in the dark, the First Fire and promises of blue skies! This catamaran is made to endure, and I have faith in St Elmo’s fire to guide me through the terror and the tempest.”

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Spring Equinox Masterpost- Spoonie Witch Friendly

The Spring Equinox, also called the Vernal Equinox or Ostara, is usually celebrated between the 21st of March in the Northern Hemisphere (In the Southern Hemisphere around September 20th or 21st)

In 2024, Ostara and the Spring Equinox land in the Northern Hemisphere on Monday, March 19th.

The Spring Equinox celebrates the arrival of spring. Celebrating balance, growth, and new beginnings as Winter has finally ended.

Spring Equinox Correspondances

Colours

Light Green

Lavender

Sunny Yellow

Light Blue

Pastel Pink

White

Herbal

Lemongrass

Daffodils

Tulips

Violets

Apple Tree

Cherry Blossom

Primrose

Birch tree

Hyacinths

Dandelion

Garlic

Ash tree

Jasmine

Edibles

Honey

Salad greens

Spring veggies

Fresh berries

Mead

Herbs

Eggs

Seeds

Bread

Edible flowers

Quiches

Custards

Maple

Animals

Hares

Baby Chicks

Snakes

Robins

Bees

Butterflies

Phoenix

Ram

Crystals

Fluorite

Moonstone

Silver

Aquamarine

Clear Quartz

Amazonite

Symbols

Bonfires

Flowers

Rabbits

Eggs

Seeds

Baskets

Flowering or Tree Buds

Lambs

Birds

Spiritual meanings

Purification

Cleansing (removal of stagnant energy)

Growth

Transition

Motivation

Balance

Birth

Good fortune

Kindness

Joy

Fertility

Scents

Coconut

Citrus

Floral scents (rose, lilac, jasmine, etc)

Herbal scents (rosemary, basil, mint, etc)

Gods / Goddesses / Spirits

Eostre –  (Anglo-Saxon)

Aphrodite - (Greek)

Gaia - (Celtic)

Gaea - (Greek)

Venus - (Roman)

Athena - (Greek)

Aurora - (Roman)

Eos - (Greek)

Isis – (Egyptian)

Freya - (Norse) 

Persephone - (greek)

Cybele - (Roman)

The Green Man - (Celtic)

Odin – (Norse) 

Osiris – (Egyptian)

Pan – (Greek)

Thoth – (Egyptian)

Adonis – (Greek)

Apollon –  (Greek)

Apollo - (Roman)

Need some suggestions to celebrate? I've got you covered.

High energy celebrations and ritual

Deep cleaning of the hearth and home

Nature hikes

Visiting farmers markets

Making preserves

Create a fae garden

Create a seasonal altar

Abundance/Prosperity ritual

New beginnings ritual

Low energy celebrations 

Wear pastels

Create flower crowns

Light a candle with scent correspondence

No spoon celebrations 

Opening a window

Journaling Prompts

Keeping hydrated

Drink floral tea

Rest

How you celebrate the holiday does not matter. You can choose to do any activity that feels right. These are only suggestions and remember that you're enough no matter what.

Also please note some stuff is UPG. A great book is Year of the Witch by Temperance Alden for honouring the celebrations and if you wanted to work more seasonally. It's not Wiccan-based and has plenty of resources for every witch.

Feel free to post how you celebrate in the comments or reblogs!

Want to see more of my posts? Check out my Wheel of the Year Masterpost or my Main Masterpost.

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15 Grimoire Page Ideas That Aren't Basic

Chronomancy Correspondences:

Explore the connection between time and magic, including auspicious moments for spellcasting, planetary hours, and lunar phases.

Echoes of Enchantment:

Discuss the use of echoes and resonance in magical workings, tapping into the vibrational frequencies of words, symbols, and intentions.

Liminal Spaces Invocation:

Explore the magical potency of liminal spaces—thresholds, crossroads, and in-between places—and how to invoke their energies.

Numinous Nectar Elixirs:

Detail the creation of magical elixirs using rare and ethereal substances, discussing their uses in rituals and ceremonies.

Quantum Sigilcraft:

Delve into the intersection of quantum physics and sigil magic, exploring the idea that consciousness can influence reality at a fundamental level.

Astral Alphabets:

Introduce lesser-known alphabets or symbolic systems used in astral travel and communication with otherworldly entities.

Dreamweaving Spells:

Discuss the art of crafting spells that are specifically designed to be cast within the dream realm, influencing waking reality.

Candle Color Alchemy:

Explore the magical properties of less common candle colors and their associations with specific intentions, emotions, and energies.

Chthonic Charms:

Focus on charms and talismans specifically attuned to underworld energies and deities, connecting with the mysteries of the subterranean realms.

Technomancy Scripts:

Examine the use of coding languages, digital symbols, and technology-based sigils in modern magical practice.

Quantum Familiars:

Explore the idea of spirit companions that exist beyond the constraints of time and space, bridging the gap between the metaphysical and quantum realms.

Sacred Geometry of Sound:

Investigate the use of sound frequencies and sacred geometry in combination, exploring how they can enhance magical rituals and spellcasting.

Ephemeral Elementals:

Discuss the existence and interaction with elementals that are tied to fleeting or ephemeral elements, such as mist, shadows, or reflections.

Psychotronic Crystals:

Explore the use of crystals not only for their physical properties but also for their alleged ability to interact with psychic and spiritual energies.

Aetheric Anatomy Cleansing:

Detail practices for cleansing and balancing the aetheric body, exploring lesser-known energy centers and channels.

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And the MOST SPICY take I have, is that some tarot spreads.

-looks to the left- -looks to the right-

Have PREMEDITATED clarifiers built in just by happenstance of the kind and type of divination you're doing. But those cards are in "position" in the spread.

Re: any card that's about "underlying issues" "relevant history to the spread" "advice" "the deck's advice" "the signifier + their inner thoughts/Inner goals/etc"

But that might be too spicy for tumblr rn.

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Taking Notes for Witchcraft

You'll see the advice of "write everything down" everywhere, and for good reason. It's a fundamental skill when studying anything, in my opinion. You can be a great reader and know all the right ways to spot a bad source, but none of that matters if you aren't keeping notes. A student is only as good as their note-taking skills, and all witches are students.

But how do you take notes?

Well, first of all, take note of this: I'm not talking about a grimoire. This isn't about writing proven spells in a pretty notebook. This is about writing down everything in a non-judgmental, kind of messy, comprehensive log. It should have a standard layout or template to make it easier to use and look back on, but otherwise, it's a working document for your eyes only.

There are countless ways to keep notes on anything. If the school system failed you (as it did many of us), chances are, you weren't ever taught how to take notes. You were just told to "write that down" and never looked at it again. You're not alone! You, too, can learn how to take not just notes but good notes.

Fundamentals of Note-Taking

The important thing to remember here is that notes are for you. There is no test to pass, no professor to impress, no essay to write. These notes are meant to help you in your magical and/or spiritual practice. But what's the purpose of taking notes, if there's no one and nothing forcing you to take them? In my mind, there are a few:

Absorbing new information by associating a physical movement with the topic (as in, remembering writing something down and using that to recall the information)

Being able to go back and reread information you've already gone over, creating a reference document for future use

Making note of thoughts, opinions, and ideas in the moment so you remember them later

With these basic purposes in mind, you might think to yourself, "Oh, that's easy! Just write everything down. Easy peasy." But to make notes not only effective in the moment for absorption and having the information in one place, they also have to be organized. Writing things down willy-nilly is fine right up until the moment you're spending 20 minutes looking for one specific note buried in a pile of loose, unlabeled papers.

So here are my (very opinion-driven) guidelines for taking notes on anything:

Notes must be kept in a dedicated, bound notebook or dedicated digital file system. Not a binder, not in loose-leaf pages, not on scraps of paper. In a notebook. Spiral notebooks are fine, but I prefer something I can't rip pages out of. I have both a digital system and a notebook system; the notebook is for raw notes and unfiltered thoughts, whereas the digital system is more polished (my actual grimoire).

Notes must be kept in date order. Chronologically! Not by subject. No jumping around the notebook, either. It doesn't matter if one page has a list of recipes to test and the next is detailing an odd dream. If they happen on the same day, they exist together.

All pages must follow a template. I have several templates for various subjects -- one for test recipes, one for completed recipes, one for spells, one for research topics... Some are more rigid than others (recipes in particular). You can use any template or method that you want, so long as it works for you. What matters is that they're all the same every time.

The template must include the date, a title, and the purpose or a summary of what the notes are about. This makes it easier to remember when I did something, what it was, what the contents of the notes are, and why I was taking the notes later on.

Number your pages. A pre-numbered notebook is ideal, but you can always add the numbers yourself.

Notes have to be legible. It just has to be legible to you. If your handwriting sucks (like mine), that's fine so long as you can read it later. But this also means making an effort to use language you'll understand. Don't use fancy script you can't read or big words you don't actually understand.

Write in pen! Controversial, maybe! But you should take notes in pen, never pencil. For one, pen won't smudge and fade like pencil will. For another, writing in pen prevents you from erasing your thoughts in the moment. You shouldn't be afraid of making mistakes or crossing things out. Plus, erasing destroys paper. Just don't do it.

Write in two or even three colors. The third reason to use pen! When I write notes, I usually write my template out in black. Then, I'll fill in the basic information in the same black pen. The "actual notes" are taken using a colored pen (blue, often). As I take notes, I usually have thoughts and ideas outside of the information I'm trying to take down. To make these more clear and easier to find later on, I write them down in a third color (red or another fun color).

Let yourself be a little disorganized and "ridiculous." Look. I know I'm saying to use templates and write neatly. But these notes are for your eyes only. You can write things down that you don't think will be actually useful later. Jot down that this detail made you think of that person. Scribble doodles in the margins. Whatever. If it's not going to impede your note-taking, it doesn't matter. But also, if you start reading a book today and don't come back to it until next week, don't pick up the notes on the prior page. Start a new page. The title should reflect that it's a continuation, but don't skip pages to make room for more notes. Fill in every page as you get to them. This is why we number our pages -- note down where the last set of notes are and then keep moving.

An Example - Book Notes

Let's say I'm reading a book and want to take notes from it. The first thing I want to consider is my goal in taking these notes and what I'm hoping to get from the book. My notes will look very different if I'm trying to review a book's quality versus learning a particular type of magic. For the purposes of this example, we'll say I'm taking general notes to glean as much information as I can from the book.

And let's say I'm using... *casts about looking for the nearest book*... The Bountiful Container, by Rose Marie Nichols McGee and Maggie Stuckey. A book I genuinely do recommend for anyone looking to learn how to keep an edible container garden, by the way.

My ideal template for a book includes:

The date in the upper left-hand corner

The page number in the lower outer corner (for left pages, bottom left; for right pages, bottom right)

The title of the book as the title of the page, followed by the author

The topic of the book

What the book contains (spells, instructions, philosophy, guides, lists, etc.)

My goal in reading it and taking these notes

A heading to delineate where the actual notes begin

Dividing parts or chapters in my chosen note-taking pen color

Here's an example of what that might look like:

Note how I'm using bullet points to keep my thoughts organized and separated. You can also see the purple writing that denotes my less organized, in the moment thoughts and feelings on what's being said in the book. Here, the black pen is the template, the teal is the facts presented by the book, and purple is my personal commentary.

You don't have to divide your commentary and factual notes, by the way. I do it because I want to easily delineate between what's actually being said by the authors and what I'm thinking in the moment about what's being said. Sometimes, I'll write them as I have in the above example, in the margins or next to the factual stuff. Other times, I'll write them in line as a dedicated bullet point. It all depends on when I have the thought.

Another Example - Spell Notes

"But what about spells?" I hear you hypothetically asking. I'm glad you've hypothetically asked, dear reader! A very similar approach can be applied to writing notes on spells.

For the purposes of this example, I'll actually show off an updated version of the notes for my Pickled Pickle Hex. Note that this isn't my actual notebook or grimoire, since those are for my eyes only.

For spells, my ideal layout includes:

The name of the spell as the title

The date in the upper left corner

The page number as described previously

The source of the spell

Type of spell (hex, protection, edible, jar, candle)

Purpose of the spell

Ideal timing, if applicable

Ingredients

Instructions

Space for notes before, during, and after the spell (during/after notes may be recorded separately)

And here's the visual example:

Note again how the template and basic information is all in black. This color is all business, detailing the actual, physical steps taken for the spell. The teal pen describes the magical parts -- ingredient correspondences, magical acts, incantation locations, etc. In the actual version, I include the incantation itself here. Then, the purple pen is my thoughts while recording it. It's mostly me talking to myself, but note under number 5 in the second image where I ask, "Include time frame here?" It's a note to self to consider where to add an expiration or expected end date during the casting process.

Again, you can include whatever you want. My original notes have doodles and copious notes in the margins... plus ingredients I needed to pick up for the spell. You can include whatever notes you need to. If it's relevant in the moment, write it down.

Recording Spell Results

A big part of note-taking for me is writing down how things work and how it all went. After all, why would I want to cast a spell again if I didn't enjoy it and it didn't work?

It's important to keep notes during your casting. I would suggest tracking the following:

Thoughts and feelings you have (nervous, tired, happy, angry, "I'm hungry," "I should've brought water with me," etc.)

Messages you receive from spirits or other entities

Odd things you notice (wax dripping strangely, shapes in the incense smoke, sounds nearby, increased pet activity, tarot cards jumping)

Alterations to prescribed steps, ingredient substitutions, added or removed steps or actions

Questions you have during the casting and answers if you look them up immediately

Concerns that come up regarding efficiency, energy levels, whether you're "doing it right," missing ingredients, and so forth

How the final result turns out (how it looks, how you feel about it, etc.)

What your next steps are (hiding it, burying it, setting it on your altar, eating it, etc.)

During this stage, particularly for that last bullet point, decide when you'll come back to this spell to check how it went. Sometimes, it isn't possible to test your results (hexes on someone you don't see consistently, for example). Even so, you should still return to the spell to record how you feel, what you think with hindsight on your side, and so forth. If you can tell how the spell worked, write down what happened and why you believe it's connected to the magical working.

If you like, you can make additional notes on the spell and steps themselves. What I do is I put a note under the post-casting section that says, "Additional notes written [date] in this pen color." And, true to form, it'll be a different pen color to everything else I've written with so far.

Again, remember that these notes aren't final. They're experiments and study notes, not grimoire pages. These notes are what your grimoire will be based on. Once you feel confident with a spell, write it into your official grimoire using your layout and medium of choice. In my case, this means typing up the final, expanded version of my notes and spells.

Conclusion

Look, in the end, it doesn't matter how you're writing stuff down. All that matters is that you're writing it down. Keeping it organized makes it easier to use later. Do what works for you.

Here are a few suggestions for note-taking methods and applications that have fed into my philosophies:

Bullet journaling - This ended up not really being for me, but a lot of the ideals are really appealing. This is where the templates idea came from.

Lab notebooks - By far the biggest influence. I highly suggest all magical practitioners give the lab notebook method a try, especially for testing spells and recording results.

Writing prompts - No, really. Using writing and spell prompts to build out and test my note templates was critical when I was trying to figure out how best to set things up. It's a low-effort way to bang out a bunch of ideas and refine layouts.

Spell books - Obviously. Take a look at how authors lay out their spells. It's organized, easy to parse, and includes details about the working. That's ideally what your notes should mimic.

Obsidian - This is an application for taking notes. It completely replaced my massive, disorganized folder of Word documents. Link between pages, tag documents for easy sorting, embed content from reference websites, draw brain maps, organize folders, use add-ons to create templates... Obsidian has literally been life changing. I use it for everything, including my grimoire. You have to pay for it, but it's very worth it. A second brain, indeed.

Try different layouts, formats, methods, mediums, everything. Hell, write notes on what works and what doesn't for your note-taking. You gotta start somewhere.

If you like my work, consider throwing a tip in my tip jar! Your support helps me keep making posts like this one. Plus, supporters got access to the full version of this post a full week early! That could be you for as low as $1.

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I've been finding tarot spreads more and more useful lately. I still usually just draw one or three cards for an answer, but having encountered some actually solid spreads out in the wild recently, I've come to appreciate what they bring to the divination arena.

This was devised after someone suggesting I actually, gasp, ask my allies for help in the things challenging me (currently, editing phase of novel).

Over the Pit: a strategic tarot spread for projects, tasks, or other insurmountable-seeming labors.

[Image: A stone bridge over a wide, reflective river on a clear day, with forest on both sides. Due to the reflection in the water, the bridge seems to form a full circle. There are numbered card graphics placed beneath and over the bridge: 1 and 7 are underneath to offer insight into the obstacles and the things unseen as well as represent a sense of circular completion, in the water, while 2-6 are spaced over the bridge itself, offering a way to cross or surmount the problems of the obstacle beneath.]

Devised after an astrological reading suggesting I actually consult with my allies to see if they want to help with the things I find challenging, gasp.

What exhausts me about this project? This card suggests the specific facet of the task at hand that will be the biggest challenge.

What energizes me about this project? This card suggests the facet of the task that draws you to it, that makes it worthwhile, and that will offer you strength in beginning the trek.

How do I best function when tackling this type of project? This space can be used to draw several cards. Many projects, especially large ones like novels, require several types or modes of function. This is a major part of developing a strategic approach: order of how cards come up will suggest the importance in relation of each approach, or a shifting of focus as the project takes shape.

Is there any ally who can help me with this project? This is the # of Jupiter for a reason...

What road hazards should I be aware of? What will impede me beyond the project's challenges itself?

What nourishment or tactic will get me across the finish line?

How can I best collaborate with helpful allies?

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Horrorween Day 22 / 31: VAMPIRES: "Vampires pretending to be humans, pretending to be vampires." | "How avant-garde."

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Recently moved and finally have my altars set up and it all feels that much more like home 🖤🖤

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Harvest Home Hexennacht: Playlist

Mark your calendars, saddle up your familiars'n'brooms, and get those bonfires prepped - we’re welcoming wild hunt season here on Tumblr sabbat-style and everyone’s invited! 🍃

Joining our hellbound hootenanny? Comment with a fall / harvest / wild hunt themed song you’d like to add to our #Harvest Home Wild Hunt playlist.

🎶 https://youtube.com/playlist/Harvest Home Hexennacht 🎶

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Harvest Home Hexennacht [2023]

Mark your calendars, saddle up your familiars'n'brooms, and get those bonfires prepped - we’re welcoming wild hunt season here on Tumblr sabbat-style and everyone's invited! 🍃

WHEN: September 21st-24th (especially the 23rd) HOW: using #HARVEST HOME WILD HUNT

September's equinox falls on a Saturday this year, gifting us northern hemisphere folk a Harvest Home weekend - perfect conditions for a hellbound hootenanny. Let's collectively escort spooky season in with a harvest-themed Hexennacht [Witch's Night] of our own making as we retire our maypoles and flower crowns for the year.

This open-to-all event combines a bit of on-line life with real life - we make merry in real time, and then post about our sabbat shenanigans using #harvest home wild hunt so fellow revelers can see what the rest of the hunt got up to. (If you're familiar with Hagging Out or have taken part in one of our Walpurgisnacht wild hunts you'll be familiar with the format.)

Planning on getting totally witch-faced at sabbat, or using the evening’s abundant vibes to provide some ooomph to a working or project? Tell us about it! Dusting off the broom and brushing through that second skin to get ‘em squeaky for the wild hunt? Building a bonfire? Hauling out Halloween decorations and skullifying the house? Enjoying a special, seasonal meal? We want the deets, yo!

PLAYLIST: A sabbat social needs a sabbat social playlist! Joining the hootenanny? Comment with a fall/harvest/wild hunt themed song you’d like to add to our Harvest Home Hexennacht playlist.

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Feeding Spells: DIY and Theory (long text)

[[Unlike my normal stuff that tries to be a lot more general, I'm going to speak primarily just about my spirit-working witchcraft paradigm; this post may not be applicable to you.]]

I believe that all magic takes energy to work. Often, when I assist people with troubleshooting spellwork, the only problem that person is having is that they are either not ever powering their spells, or they are failing to provide the spells with more energy when the batteries have run dry.

Typically, these people are aware that spells need power to go. They just don't have a grasp on how they can do it within their unique belief structure.

Common problems I see:

Imagination/desire is falsely equated to energy work. As in, "I visualize that the spell is filled with power." But no actual movement of energies takes place.

In the way I do energy work, visualization may be conceived of as a hollow vessel or empty skin which will shape and form power that is poured into it - but you've got to pour the power, or else the skin will rapidly wither away.

A charm or action is performed, but it fails to correctly evoke power.

E.g., the practitioner has read that "offerings don't need to be physical, singing, dancing, and devotional acts are powerful offerings," and has taken this to mean that doing their homework with the intent of recharging their spells is sufficient.

The practitioner has bought into the "whatever you want to do will work because your witchcraft is under your control" thing and is basically just having fun with the vibes.

E.g., in the charm, "Sun and Moon watch over you, by the Stars you're Cleansed," the practitioner may certainly be evoking power, but the power is not a revitalizing one; it is a cleansing or purifying one.

A practitioner defending their choices to use this charm may say that it makes their space feel lovely, or vibrate with power, and that - just like putting an object under the full moon to charge it - their enchanted objects are naturally just supposed to soak up this power.

Which they may well be doing - to become cleansed. Not necessarily to become saturated with the vital power required to function magically.

Below are things about charging which may assist you if you think you struggle with properly feeding your spellwork after it has been cast.

Feeding or charging?

Same thing. I find the imagery inspired by feeding to be closer to the magical reality of the operation: the spell must consume. It must take in energy, chew it up, swallow it, and digest it.

It will likely work more weakly when it is hungry, and - just like an electronic device shutting itself off at 2% to save your user data - when it becomes too starved for power, it will cease to function until you feed it again.

What to feed?

In all cases, unless you are a trained energy worker, avoid only imagining or believing that any magical object has regained a charge.

Generally, you will want to sacrifice a physical substance (food, specially prepared feeding substances).

What you do with remnants of an offering after it has been given is up to you.

Exactly what you feed your magic with does matter - but for general purposes, almost anything will do. Your own intuition and spirits will advise on the details if special circumstances arise.

Generally speaking, we might say that if a spell is constructed with certain powers, it is best to mimic those powers in charging. If you cast a candle spell, candles may be best to charge it; if your spell is one of special waters, then mixing in empowered water may be your best choice, and so forth.

When in doubt, share some of your meal, if you can spare it.

When to feed?

For spells that are expected to function on an ongoing basis, but currently aren't carrying a heavy load (e.g., a happy job spell while your job environment is already basically fine and there are no big issues to deal with), try feeding once a month. The full moon makes a good reminder.

For spells that are carrying a heavy load (e.g., a happy job spell but they just promoted the Worst Woman Ever to supervisor), feed weekly - or more often.

For spells that are on bed rest, in hibernation, or are active but rarely used, quarterly (on equinoxes or solstices) may more than suffice.

It's a good idea to try and develop a sense for whether or not an object is charged or not - this is not a terribly advanced psychic operation. A pendulum board with the numbers 1-10 to gauge a charge level is ideal to bridge the gap.

If a spell stops working, try feeding it. A lack of energy is not the only reason spells fail, but this is a good first step to troubleshooting.

Prepare a Feeding Charm

This charm, in and of itself, does not need to deliver metaphysical power. Rather, you are instructing the magical object to come and feed.

Conceptually, we may imagine that if the spell is a hound dog out chasing rabbits, we are whistling for it to come back to the cabin and eat. Without our instructions, it may not find the food, or may neglect to eat it at all.

This charm may be as simple as "come and eat," spoken with special focus over the object. Or, it may be a hand sign. If you like, you can visualize - perhaps a hungry mouth bursting into appearance atop the object.

A simple Feeding Charm ("come and eat") may be supplemented by whatever special instructions you have in that moment. E.g., "and once you're doing eating, go right away and keep performing your duties." Or, "...then hibernate, and reserve all this energy for yourself; rest and grow strong, and I'll get you next when I need you."

Intuition may advise that for special objects, unique preparation methods must be undertaken. You can't snap your fingers at every kind of magic, after all. But for the kind over which you are lord and master, I recommend keeping your Feeding Charm very easy to carry out.

Combine the Feeding Charm with any sacrifice of digestible energy

Over any object to be fed, perform your Feeding Charm.

Then, provide energy directly to the object. This may take many forms depending on the object:

Incense and candles may be burned nearby; ideally, hold object in heat or smoke

Food may be placed in front of

Special oils or waters may be daubed on

Energy work may be performed to pour in power

Prayers may be performed, requesting that some entity or force directly donate their power to the object

If the offering must be "activated" in any sense (lighting a candle, etc), do so.

In circumstances where a spell still has some energy and is just due for a meal, let the energy "settle" for perhaps fifteen to thirty minutes, or even an hour or so.

Then, perform a closing or sealing charm to end the feeding. Proceed to direct your spell back to its task. ("Now that you've eaten, go back to do your work.")

After this point, dispose of any offering remnants in any method which you prefer.

In the case that a spell has run completely dry and is now a withered husk, more work is required

In fact, it may be easier to just cast a whole new spell, but in case you don't want to:

Experiment with a variety of offerings and energy sources; not just different kinds of food, but food combined with prayers, etc.

Instead of telling your magic to eat and get back to work, use your Feeding Charm to instruct the object to consume as much energy as it needs to grow strong and return to its former strength.

If possible, carry the object with you and allow it to feed off of your personal energy, like a leech.

You may need to place the object in a special container, such as a cauldron or coffin, to represent an embryonic or gestational state of rebirth. While the object is interred within, feed and care for as usual.

There is a maximum amount of metaphysical energy that spells can absorb at once. Like an underweight puppy, one feeding might not do; you may have to carefully feed the charm over multiple days before it begins to wake up again.

Your life may be made easier if you can get a spirit to watch over this process for you.

If strange, hungry creatures appear in your dreams, feed them.

Recharging a spell with no physical vessel

Generally, if you expect to use a spell over and over again in the long term, you should tie it to a physical vessel. This makes maintenance (such as feeding) easier.

However, you may still be able to feed a spell with no physical vessel.

Provide the spell with a clear quartz crystal, or other specially prepared temporary vessel, and call the spell down into it in order for it to feed.

When the feeding is done, seal the feeding dismiss the spell as you normally would.

If the spell can't be "called down" away from its post, take a candle and carve into it the name or mark of your spell, work over the candle until it is metaphysically relevant, and burn it with the instructions that its power goes to your spell.

You may be saying that your spell does not have a name or mark with which to identify it (and no, I do not mean the name of the recipe; I mean the name of the individual spell). If that is the case, in the future, refrain from casting spells with no vessels and no names and sending them out into the world, only to later on realize you need to call it back and mess with it.

If this is, however, the case for you currently, consider the following stopgap solutions:

Use your spell notes as an information taglock ("this power goes to the Red Pepper Spellbreaker cast on [date] for [purpose]")

Create a custom sigil specifically identifying the spell cast prior

Re-create the original spell and consecrate the reconstruction as being the body of the original, then recast it to empower the original

Just pretty much focus on the fact that the energy is going to reach the spell that you cast that one time (it will probably work)

Make your life easier by preparing metaphysically enriched offerings ahead of time

By preparing batch substances with which to feed your magic, you will save frustration and be more easily able to feed your magic when you're too tired to do energy work or full charms.

The lunar oil below is a basic example of how to enchant a feeding substance.

There are many recipes for preparing general-purpose feeding substances. Powders are a common one. Although I've shared an oil below, my favorite formula is based in water - it makes for easier cleanup.

General purpose charging oil for the Lunar Witch

Obtain a small container of palatable oil - perhaps olive oil. Transfer it into a new container if you like.

Emphasis on the small - you will use drops at a time, so even a couple of ounces can last a year.

On the container (using a masking tape foundation and permanent marker, if necessary), draw the planetary seal of the Moon (the one that looks like four bananas), and if you are able to manage it, the lunar planetary square.

On the full moon, and if you must a waxing moon, but never on the waning or dark moons, take this container of oil as near as possible to the moonlight.

Prepare to speak over the oil a hymn. Before or during the recitation, perform a charm or action which indicates the oil should capture, contain, and/or be infused with the energy you will call down.

Consider speaking the hymn to be an act of creating a road or highway to lunar power, through which lunar power spills down.

Perform your Feeding Charm.

Speak over the oil the Orphic hymn to Selene (this, or any preferred translation).

Perform a sealing or completion charm ("So Mote It Be," etc).

The oil is now charged in a basic way. Repeat the hymn every full moon and it can be used as a serviceable feeding oil.

Now that the oil has been prepared in a basic way, the real work may begin.

Put the container of oil in a special and magical place. Petition and request that you may receive special signs for what other ingredients to add to the oil.

Be specific that you seek to make a feeding oil for the purposes of revitalizing any magical object. (You never know what the spirits will try to have you craft if you're not specific).

Attempt your best efforts of omen-reading, dreamwork, and other methods of receiving spirit messages. You may find that you need to pray and petition daily, or engage in other strenuous spirit work. Be prepared to deal with sorcerous, lunar, and other emissaries during this time.

With luck and extended effort (spanning, most likely, weeks or months or longer - this is not a weekend operation), you will receive confirmation of some special ingredient, object, technique, or other thing, to include in this recipe to make it uniquely your own.

[ourthirteenthclock]

Throwin’ the Bones

Of the divinatory techniques with which I am familiar, bones are my personal favorite. Yes, they have that very witchy vibe – but it’s more than that; the bones are honest. They don’t sugar coat, and while they have to be interpreted, once you know how to read them – there’s little room for interpretation. They are very direct and are much better suited to answering yes or no questions than tarot. With a little imaginative methodology, there few questions the bones can’t answer. And even fewer they won’t answer (as tarot cards can be known to do). A few examples of things I think the bones are better at answering than tarot: questions involving time, questions regarding health, sickness and maledictions; they present a broader grasp to any given situation – incorporating things outside of the question presented and how these things relate to the question or the reading, showing the interconnectedness of life – and how these things all relate back.

Our countless cultures have countless methods for collecting and reading the Bones – and I can only rightly attest to my own methodology: one in which the Bones need not necessarily consist solely of bones, but a collection of gathered trinkets and curios, all with their own meaning, their own story and their own energy. My collection consists of: bones (bare and painted), coins, stones, shells, jewelry, twigs, buttons, animal teeth and other squabbles. The only rule I implement is that the item can be easily gathered and (safely) tossed without breakage or injury (save your razor-blades and glass shards for witches’ bottles!).

Collecting the Bones and Bobbles

Most any small bones will do, though its recommended that you use bones that haven’t been cooked, as cooked bones have a tendency to get very brittle – especially in the case of chicken, which is quite common. In my collection I have a number of different animal bones: most are chicken, but I also have some raccoon and possum bones, as well as teeth and claws. I built a “base” of bones, but am continuously adding or replacing as I see fit.

A short list of “Bones” I like to include – most of which serve as my “base” bones:

Self Bone – used for the reader

Other Bone – used to represent another person or the person you are reading

Magic Bone – represents the need for or use of magic

“Evil” Bone – malicious or hateful acts, disadvantageous behavior

Love Bone – represents romantic love

Male Bone – represents male fertility, masculinity, sexuality or a man

Female Bone – represents female fertility, femininity, sexuality or a woman

Health Bone – represents physical or mental health

Wealth Bone – represents financial standing or monetary issues

Family Bone – represents familial connections or a family member

Fate Bone – represents destiny and your lifepath (I use a shell for this: open side up means an event can be altered, destiny is not set in stone; open side down, this path must be walked – prepare in lieu of fighting)

“Key” Bone – (I actually use a small key) which represents the key to any given situation, the remedy or problem at hand and its cause

This list is by no means comprehensive and I have many more bones in my collection with more menial meanings. This is simply a small list of options to be added to and adapted by whosoever casts the bones.

Reading the Bones

There is no right or wrong way to read the bones, there is simply your way and their way. Below I will dictate how it is that I do a general reading – again, this is just an example of one way, take and adapt to fit your own unique style or tradition!

Begin by collecting your bones into your hand. I keep mine in a leather pouch, but don’t like to toss them directly from the bag as it doesn’t allow for much control – i.e. the bones fall out either in a massive, unreadable pile or they fly out in such a scattered way nothing is close enough to read. Throwing them from the hand allows for a rather contained casting, and one that can be read easily. I do not include the Self or Other bone, instead, the Self Bone is placed before the caster and the Other Bones is placed either in front of the person you’re reading for or simply in the middle of the casting area. When reading for yourself, place the Self Bone in the center and discard the Other Bone.

Throw the Bones. This can be done on a square of cloth on which a circle (or any number of complex shapes) has been drawn or simply upon a flat table. If throwing in a circle, discard all bones that fall outside of it. These bones are null for the reading, though they can also be read as “far from the person’s mind/current situation.”

Interpret the Bones. This is done by noting the location and connection of the bones present. For instance, note the Love Bones proximity to the Other Bones and the Male Bone. This could be interpreted as being the male love of the querent – but if the “Evil” bones is introduced, this could symbol ulterior motives or a hostile or explosive relationship. Read based on both their proximity to the Other Bone – the closer, the higher priority the matter is – and their relation to one another. It’s very much like investigating a big puzzle, putting it together piece by piece to form a comprehensive understanding of their life or situation. Also not their relation based on the third dimension: x bone seems to be overlapping y bone – is the x issue eclipsing an underlying problem or truth represented by y? It depends. Only through practice will you find clarity.

Convey the message. I always like to spend a few moments making a variety of “hmm” noises when reading for others – it builds up their anticipation. Or you can throw in the occasional gasp or snarky smirk. Their responses are usually hilarious – even more so when yours are genuine! If you are reading on your own, it may be a good idea to sketch out a general map of the readings as opposed to taking a picture as often bones overlie others, which makes for a rather misleading photo representation. You might also find jotting down notes rewarding, especially in synthesizing a cohesive read.

Once you’ve garnered all the information you can from that particular toss, feel free to specify: take the bone/situation you wish to examine and toss the rest again over it/them, reading the others through that particular lens. I.E. Who is this person mentioned? What are their qualities? What is the nature of this love? What magic is being referenced here? Follow that rabbit hole as far as you wish, building your understanding.

Do not be afraid to adjust your style! Want to narrow down a time frame? Make a sort of timeline with the bones. Wish to determine the source of an ailment? Shape the bones into the form of a body. I find the bones allow for far more creativity and ingenuity than cards. And above all – TRUST YOUR GUT.

Photos: These are photos of my “base” bones when I first started reading; since then they have probably doubled (if not tripled) in number and do not incorporate my other animal bones, claws or teeth. 

[ourthirteenthclock]

Bedridden Witch Series

For those of you who don’t know me, I suffer from a chronic illness and I spend a LOT of time bedridden. I also happen to be a witch! I don’t let being trapped in bed stop me from practicing my craft. Here are some resources I’ve compiled from my personal experiences and the help of others <3

Bedridden witch - Original edition

Bedridden witch  - Nature edition

Bedridden witch  - Worship edition

Bedridden witch- Divination edition

Bedridden witch - Stale energy edition

Bedridden witch - Elements edition

Bedridden witch - Pastel edition

Bedridden witch - Kitchen edition

Bedridden witch - Winter edition

Bedridden witch - Ocean edition

Bedridden witch - Love edition

Bedridden witch - Weather edition

Bedridden witch - Garden edition

Bedridden witch - Bath edition

Bedridden witch - Wheel of the Year edition

Bedridden witch - Discreet edition

Bedridden witch - The Setup

Bedridden witch - Space edition

Check the notes for future updates! Updated July of 2022

[ourthirteenthclock]

The Christians as the Romans Saw Them by Robert Wilken provides good historical context as well about early Christianity. 

A heads-up for any ex-Christian witches or any ex-Christians in general: this stuff about Jesus being "copied" from Horus or Christianity generally being "stolen" from paganism is pretty much all conspiracy theory and/or a gross oversimplification of actual history. If you want to learn more about Christianity's origins, I recommend Bart D. Ehrman's How Jesus Became God.

[ourthirteenthclock]

hi! so i'm a beginner witch, but i'm struggling to start my practice because i can't seem to look past my skepticism. how did you first start to believe in your practice? if you have any advice i would greatly appreciate it – perhaps a simple spell that can 'prove', at least psychologically, that i'm not doing nothing?

Hmm. The desire for verification is very valid. Nothing wrong with it; it's good to experience the validation that yes, your magic works.

Let me ask you this.

Are you interested in witchcraft as a skill, or even a hobby (nothing wrong with that), because gaining the ability to influence the world around you with magic is cool?

Or, are you interested in witchcraft as a framework of spiritual belief that improves your lived experience on this world, and helps you navigate the "big questions" about yourself and your life?

Of course, there can be plenty of overlap between the two.

If you're in it for the sorcerous skills, divination is a quick fix that can start producing immediate results - for most. I was horrible with divination the first couple of years I tried it. But lots of people have great success right off the bat.

Beyond that, just try casting spells. Keep decent records. Different kinds of magic work better or worse for different people. Some people can do really amazing things with energy work, but I can't really do that because it exhausts me. I work very well with spirit petitions, but some witches out there don't believe in spirits at all, so of course they would have a lot of trouble working with that style. So experiment around.

Try small quality of life spells - getting work or school closed for the day, quick cash, open parking spots, etc etc. Keep in mind that some people will never excel at certain types of magic - for example, a person may never be good at love or romance magic even if they excel in other areas - so if a spell type doesn't work for you (like money, or finance) try other types.

I don't recall being very successful with magic for a while after I started practicing (like, years!) so unfortunately not all of us are blessed with quick results.

Now, on the other hand, if you are interested in witchcraft as a spiritual framework, "I know I can trust this because I've seen it work" might be a lousy way to go about things.

Witches who have practiced for decades still get crises of faith and question their experiences, their reality, and their beliefs. Many of us live in a world where these beliefs are actively shut down - either as being fake, foolish, and delusional; or, as being evil and demonic.

It can be hard to keep the torch of faith lit in the face of such a storm. And unfortunately, pulling off a few slick spells isn't going to provide perfect armor against doubts.

And what about the all too common phenomenon of someone's magic failing to work for a period of time? It is unfortunately normal for techniques witches have personally relied on for years to simply stop working for them, stalling their practice out for months or longer while they try to rebuild.

If you're looking for a spirituality to call home, you should consider seeking more stable bedrock than "my spells really do work" to build it on.

Does your practice provide you with liberation, excitement, hope? Does it grant you feelings of peace and security? When you think about the world through the lens of witchcraft, does your life become easier to navigate? Do the painful little cracks in life get smoothed over, or become easier to avoid? Does the mindset of a witch help you learn, grow, and prosper?

In the long term, I believe these are the things that keep us going - not whether or not a spell can be made manifest. If this mindset brings you peace, hope, and empowerment, then you are never just doing nothing.

To answer your question about myself, I was raised in a religious household that acknowledged the reality of spirits and witchcraft, except that they were just "evil." So, believing that it was real was never an issue for me - it was believing that I could do it which was the problem.

The answer for me is just experience, time and time again. Years of experiences stamped onto the soft clay of my life. When you look at them one at a time it seems like nothing but little divots, but after a few years you can zoom out and say, ah-

they are not random little pock marks after all.

That is a carving of a chicken.

[ourthirteenthclock]

I’m watching Kitchen Nightmares and I realized I’m basically Gordon Ramsey when I’m in someone’s space and they’re complaining about bad energy, like

“When was the last time these crystals were charged?”

“Do you not cleanse your space? Look at all this spiritual build up! Don’t you dare tell me you cleansed this!”

“Malachite next to carnelian? No wonder you can’t sleep and you’re eating everything you noodle!”

[ourthirteenthclock]

So tired of trying to find good books on different witch paths and beginner friendly stuff but it's all based in/on Wicca.

WICCA IS NOT THE BASE FOR ALL WITCHES

WE ARE NOT ALL WICCAN

WICCA =/= ALL PAGANISM

WITCHCRAFT IS NOT LIMITED TO WICCANS