ray-does-witchcraft

[ray-does-witchcraft]

7 Virtues of Hellenism.

Xenia - This is the pillar that signifies hospitality, generosity and reciprocity. It's typically demonstrated in a guest/host dynamic.

Kharis - This is the pillar that signifies appreciation and gratitude. It entails giving to the gods and and expressing gratitude when you receive something from them.

Eusebia - This is the pillar that signifies reverence and veneration towards the gods. It can be translated to 'piety' or 'reverant conduct' meaning that you show respect for them.

Hagneia - This is the pillar that signifies purifying yourself. It entails having moral, perhaps physical too, purity and avoiding miasma where possible.

Arete - This is the pillar that signifies excellence and brilliance. It entails trying to reach your highest potential and this can be in any field.

Sophia - This is the pillar that signifies the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom.

Sophrosyne - This is the pillar that signifies self-control and prudence. It involves being of sound mind and remaining balanced, which can further lead to other positive qualities to have.

I hope these are right and that I didn't misunderstand their meanings! Hopefully this is useful to anyone, I certainly enjoyed making the post!

[ray-does-witchcraft]

Khaire Altis! Any advice for building kharis?? I've been worshipping the theoi for over a year but I still as if we are not close, probably due to the fact that I don't worship consistently. Thanks in advance

Xaire, Anon!

When it comes to building Kharis, it isn't something that can be rushed. It takes time, and it has nothing to do with consistent worship. Here are some ways you can build Kharis without consistently offering things to them, and hopefully these are disability and neurodivergence-friendly.

Think about them. If you are walking past a flower stand, thank Queen Persephone for the Spring, Lady Demeter for the harvest, and Lord Pan for the nature they hailed from. If you are at the beach, thank Lady Aphrodite for the sea foam and King Poseidon and Queen Amphitrite for the waves. In the rain, thank King Zeus for fertilization and life. Simply think about them and thank them.

Talk about them. Educate others on the myths and nuances surrounding them. Tell people about the representation of Queer love and expression in some of the relationships of Greek Mythos, like Lord Apollon and Hyacinthus or Cyprus. Talk about the nuance of the relationship between Queen Hera and King Zeus. Talk about how important the home and hearth is to venerate and honor Lady Hestia. Talk about them.

Say Good morning and Goodnight. I built Kharis with Lord Apollon by saying good morning and thanking Him for pulling Helios across the sky every morning, and at sunset I'd say goodnight to Him and Welcome Lady Artemis with an esteemed "Good evening."

Pray to them. Pray to them and praise them, sing them hymns, or even just write them down whenever you remember to.

Write letters of introduction to them. I did this with Lord Hermes/Signore Ermetes recently to welcome Him into my practice on a deeper level. And He has been putting me into contact with a variety of Gods as of late - write the letter and pray over it, or leave it on an altar, or offer it to Lord Hermes to carry to the appropriate Divinity.

Listen to music that reminds you of them. Make them playlists. Write your own music in their honor. Music is an amazing way to express emotions and gratitude to the Theoi.

Dedicate parts of your routine to them. Things you already do in your day-to-day. If you're showering, or even just caring for your hygiene in the ways that you can, dedicated it to Lady Aphrodite as an act of self-care. Take your meds in honor of Lord Apollon and Lord Asklepios. Cook your meal in honor of Lady Hestia. Or rotate who you devote certain acts to. When I go to the gym, I cycle between offering it to Lord Ares, King Zeus, and Odysseus.

Dedicate your moments of rest to them. Thank them for the opportunity to rest and allowing it to be rejuvenating, or even for allowing a moment to catch your breath.

Simply talk to them. This can be more informal than prayer. Tell them about your day. Talk out loud, or think it at them. Something I do when I'm a bit frazzled in my room is, if an altar catches my eye, I say hello to the God whose space it is. If King Zeus's altar catches my eye, I take a moment to say, "Hello, King Zeus," and it calms me tremendously because I stopped to focus on one thing.

Position altars in spaces you visit frequently. If you cannot set up altars, mentally dedicate that space. I have Lord Apollons altar between my bed and desk. King Zeus's altar is next to my closet and on top of my dresser, and beside that is Lady Aphrodite's altar. I visit these spaces frequently, so I get to see them and spend time with them often.

Building Kharis does not have to be intimidating or time-consuming. It can be simple acts like these that show the Gods that you care, and that they occupy space in your brain. Thinking first about the Theoi shows that they are at the forefront of your mind. Letting them exist in your thoughts can be a simple way to build Kharis, as well. Do bigger acts when you can, of course. But don't feel like that is the only way to build Kharis. Worship is continuous. "Worshipping consistently" looks different for everyone. Recently for me, it has been thinking about them and keeping them in mind. Sometimes it's constant offerings and prayer when I have the capacity. Both are perfectly fine ways to worship.

This list was curated with the help of some of my friends, and I would like to thank them for assisting me. I am fortunate enough to be physically able, so without their assistance, I would not have been able to make such an inclusive list of methods. These are things they have done in their practice to accommodate themselves, and I am grateful that they worked with me to share these with you.

Xaire, Altis.

[ray-does-witchcraft]

𝐋𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐀𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐚

𝘨𝘰𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘥𝘰𝘮, 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘺, 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘧𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘴

𓅓

digital offering for my wonderful matron, thank you showing me strength when i couldn’t find it 💜

[ray-does-witchcraft]

Sit in silence, if you need.

That is to say, if you have a hard time knowing what to offer today, if you have little left to stand on, but you want to be with the Gods, anyway - sit with them.

Don't underestimate the importance of being present. It's easy to believe it's not enough, but being mindful with them is better than avoiding your altars and shrines out of guilt.

Burnout is an insidious beast. It's obligation's angry cousin.

"I have to give offerings every day-"

"Today was awful and I didn't have time-"

"I feel bad that I didn't offer anything today-"

But what happens when you have 2, 3, maybe even 7 days like this? Do you feel so bad about it that it's hard to bounce back?

"I've been neglecting my Gods and I'm upset with myself for it-"

Next time, day one of low energy, low time, low mood: Sit with them. Think about them. Talk to them. By your altar. In your car. On the bus. Laying in bed.

Think of it like you're sending a text to someone you care about.

"Hey. Today was bad. I know I usually do ___, but I don't have it in me today. I just wanted to let you to know I love you."

You'd be surprised. Sometimes just sitting with them gives you a second wind, too.

[ray-does-witchcraft]

Fighting Consumerism in Magic

aka, little things to distance your craft from capitalism

Let’s all just admit that buying stuff is fun. That said, there’s a big issue of consumerism within the witchy/pagan scene. As magic work and the pagan “aesthetic” becomes more of a commodity in the mainstream, there’s a mounting attitude of needing All The Items in the highest quality (even if we’re not certain we’ll use them,) and big corporations mass-producing cheap stuff to make a buck off of a growing trend. Here’s some things you can do to help detach your practice from that and support other people in the craft:

Go outside. Check your backyard or local park for local plant life, waters, roots, etc. If your work involves things from nature at all, you can probably find a lot of your supplies… in nature. It takes a little more time, but it’s free and then you’ve gathered stuff yourself! 

Make stuff. This one is pretty straightforward. There may be key items to your practice that you can make yourself instead of buying it! That said, I know sometimes spending money is inevitable so I won’t dwell too much on this… let’s talk more about shopping:

Shop mindfully. The price of a lot of items will skyrocket once it has a pentacle or other symbol engraved on it. For example, little mortars and pestles can be very pricey in witchy shops, but you could probably get a bigger one that’s actually food safe for less at a nice grocery store. Antique stores and international markets are now your new best friends.

Support small businesses! Things are cheaper on Amazon, but the extra money goes to support real people, likely other practitioners. If you can, supporting small, local, independent shopkeepers and crafters does a ton of good. It also helps build and sustain a local community. 

Shop based on need. Don’t get something “just in case” (unless it’s banishing or hex breaking stuff; those are decent to have on hand.) It’s tempting to impulse-buy a ton of niche items and ingredients, but unless you have a reasonable idea what you’re going to use them for in the near future, it’ll probably just create clutter for you to deal with later.

Prioritize effectiveness over aesthetic. Ultimately your practice has to work for you, not just look good. I think making your work aesthetically pleasing to yourself can be an important part of really connecting with what you’re doing, but don’t make that desire burn a hole in your wallet and distract you from what brought you to this path in the first place. Altar envy is a real thing. 

Recycle/Upcycle. Use old clothing fabric for an altar cloth. That old trinket dish makes a great offering dish. Enchant jewelry you already own. That jar of strawberry jelly you just finished off will work just fine for that spell. Things can be re-purposed and made into new things.

Analyze your offerings. Special occasion wine isn’t a special occasion if you do it every time. Not every offering needs to be a grand gesture, regular maintenance is more important generally.

Organize trades. Have any pals that also practice? See if you can help each other! You could trade different goods (that old mini cauldron you bought and never used for that abandoned tarot deck, maybe?) but also services. A protection spell for a luck charm. A reading for a reading. You help them with the laundry and they cook you a meal one day. 

As always, the goal is to foster a local community of individuals doing honest work, and shedding the consumerist mindset society taught us to make us spend more money. Take up the idea that you can do magic completely on your own with what you already around you, and if you do want to spend money, see if you can do it in a way that helps the world a tiny bit.  :) 

[ray-does-witchcraft]

𝔩𝔦𝔳𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔦𝔫 𝔞 𝔪𝔢𝔪𝔬𝔯𝔶

[ray-does-witchcraft]

My Notes on Eros✨🌸

This set of notes touches on Eros, Cupid, Aphrodite, theories of Eroses creation, Psyche, Apollo, Daphne. and more. 

Who is Eros?

Eros is the classical Greek god of sexual desire and attraction, the word erotic comes from his name. He is later on regarded as the protector of homosexual culture. 

What are Eros’s attributes?

Eros had a bow and set of arrows that were gold-tipped and sharp he would shoot at beings to cause love between them. He also had a second set of arrows that were blunt and lead-tipped that would cause the victim to be unable to receive love.

Does Eros have a role in Roman Mythology?

Yes! He is known as Cupid. The matchmaking chubby baby that sets up a romance.

Who are his parents?

Theory 1: Chaos

This theory is basically the theory that he doesn’t have parents and he came from ‘Chaos.’ This theory is backed up by the fact that everything stems from love. Eros was the matchmaker and caused love, so his creation would be necessary for the rest of the god(esse)s. 

Theory 2: Aphrodite and Ares

This theory is the idea that Eros is the son of Aphrodite (goddess of love) and Ares (god of war). This is the theory I have always known as true, which may be because I’m such a big Lady Gaga fan and she references this in her song G.U.Y. “Greetings, Himeros God of sexual desire, son of Aphrodite,” the song goes. In the theory with Aphrodite and Ares being the parents of many Erotes or winged love-gods. Himeros and Eros are both Erotes.

Theory 3: Zephyrus and Iris

This theory is less popular and is the theory that Eros is the son of Zephyrus (the West Wind) and Iris (messenger of the Gods). 

Theory 4: An Egg

This theory is strongly influenced by the Orphic religion (a subreligion of Greek Hellenism). The theory goes that Eros was born with golden wings out of an egg laid by Nyx (the Night) in Erebus (the Darkness). 

Myths including Eros

Apollo and Daphne

Apollo, God of sun, light, music, poetry, healing, plagues, prophecy, knowledge, order, beauty, archery and architecture. Apollo had mocked Eroses archery skils, which caused mischevious Eros to prove his power by shooting Apollo with a gold-tipped arrow and shoot his love interest, Daphne, a Naid nymph (naiads were minor goddesses of fountains, wells, springs, and other freshwater bodies), with a lead-tipped arrow. 

Apollo ended up heartbroken as he was madly in love with the nymph but she was untouched by his attempts.

Eros and Psyche

Aphrodite (Eroses alleged mom and goddess of love) was jealous of the fact that Psyche had countless suitors and begged Eros to make mortal Psyche fall in love with the ugliest creature available. Eros agreed and flew down to earth to accomplish the mission but accidentally pricked himself with one of his gold-tipped arrows. 

Eros enlisted the help of Zephyrus to organize secret meetings with his mortal lover. They had a fling that consisted of them meeting up nightly. 

Now, there are two versions that I have read of the following myth, but they both end up the same. Version one goes that Psyche was told to never look at Eros and they had a secret love. The second version goes that they would meet in total darkness and she could not see her lover. Regardless, Psyche could not see Eros.

Psyche had curious and envious sisters who convinced Psyche to find out her secret lover’s identity. Psyche would either sneak a peak or light a candle to do so. She discovers Eroses’ identity and he realizes that she has discovered his identity.  He flees the secretive sacred grove that they would meet in, feeling enraged and betrayed.

Psyche feels heartbroken and empty and needs to win back her lover. She begs the gods and goddesses to give her an opportunity to win back her lover, and Aphrodite grants one. Aphrodite gives Psyche a set of four seemingly impossible tasks (remember Aphrodite does not like Psyche!):

1) Sorting out a huge pile of seeds

2) Retrieving the Golden Fleece (a fleece of the golden-woolled ram, Chrysomallos, a symbol of authority and kingship)

3) Filling a flask with water from the River Styx (river between the Underworld and world of the living)

4) Return from the Underworld with a box of beauty ointment from Persephone, goddess of vegetation and wife of Hades, ruler of the Underworld

Psyche completes the tasks and wins Aphrodites approval and Eroses’ trust. Eros and Psyche get married and have a child, Voluptas, goddess of sensual pleasure. 

Offerings to Eros

In ancient times, offerings to Eros consisted of plants, flowers, sacred oils, wine, handmade jewelry, and animal sacrifices. Modern-day offerings to Eros include apples, grapes, roses, bows and arrows, rabbits and eggs.  

Festivals and Celebrations

In Athens, Eros and Aphrodite were honored together started in the fifth century BCE at the acropolis. A festival would take place honoring Eros, it was called the Erotidia and would happen in March or April, during Spring, the season of fertility. It was full of sporting events, games and art.

Sources (in order)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

[ray-does-witchcraft]

Introduction to Draconic Magic

⊱ ────── {⋆⌘⋆} ────── ⊰

Please Note: I will be discussing the European version of dragons and dragon guides. There are many different myths, stories, and versions depending on where in the world you are talking about, but the European dragons are OPEN while the Asian versions are CLOSED. 

⊱ ────── {⋆⌘⋆} ────── ⊰

What is a Dragon?

A dragon is a mythological creature that is typically portrayed as having four legs and two wings (one pair). They can come in a variety of colors, abilities, shapes, etc. 

It’s hard to find a lot of solid information on Dragons and the likes, so anything I write about will be based on personal experience, or of the experience of people I have asked. 

⊱ ────── {⋆⌘⋆} ────── ⊰

Different Type of “Dragons”

Dragons, contrary to popular belief, is not a blanket term. Here is a small list of creatures that typically get called a Dragon, but are not. 

Drake: Four legs, no wings

Wyven: Two legs, Two wings

Lindwrum: two legs, the rest of the body is snake like. No wings

Wrym: no legs, no wings. Basically a giant snake

Amphiptere: No legs, two wings. Flying snake

⊱ ────── {⋆⌘⋆} ────── ⊰

What are Dragon Guides?

Dragon Guides are kinda like deities. They will help you in your path or practice, but they are a bit more permanent. While Gods and Goddess will eventually leave once they’ve taught you all that they can, a dragon guide will stay with you until you no longer want to work with them. You should show them respect and pay attention to when they speak to you. Some Dragon Guides don’t want you to tell other their name or really speak about them, as they are ancient beings that will tell you secrets. This is why it’s hard to find information on them. 

⊱ ────── {⋆⌘⋆} ────── ⊰

How do you work with a Dragon Guide?

You have to go to them. Meditations, astral projection, the works. It’s not impossible they will reach out to you, but they want to see if you truly want to work with them. They don’t want to waste their time. 

⊱ ────── {⋆⌘⋆} ────── ⊰

What can you offer Dragon Guides?

Learn what their horde is off, and offer that. Some Dragons horde coins, so give them the shiniest coins you can find, or some like to horde food, so leave a portion of your meals for them. Each Dragon is different, and each one likes different things.

⊱ ────── {⋆⌘⋆} ────── ⊰

How do I know if it’s actually a Dragon Guide reaching out?

Same way you would check if a deity is reaching out. Divination is the backbone of communicating with your entities. 

⊱ ────── {⋆⌘⋆} ────── ⊰

[ray-does-witchcraft]

Greek Gods 101: A Masterlist

This is a masterlist of the “Greek Gods 101” series. This series aims to provide basic information and worship ideas for both major and minor deities. This masterlist also involves heroes, deified mortals, spirits, and other figures of Greek mythology. This list is now newly organized into letter categories.

A’s & B’s

C’s & D’s

E’s & F’s

G’s & H’s

I’s & L’s

M’s & N’s

O’s & P’s

R’s & S’s

T’s, U’s, & Z’s

What is a “Universal Offering/Devotional Act?”

Feel free to request or suggest deities! This list will be done in order but you can ask for me to complete one that’s further down the list. Requests take priority!

This list is subject to change. There are probably repeat deities (deities who go by multiple names, parts of groups like the Horae or Charities who are mostly grouped together, etc.) on this list. Some deities are not on here. Some names are spelt wrong or different.

[ray-does-witchcraft]

Intuitive Free Writing

(Decided to make this its own post.)

Free Writing is a method of journaling but can also be used to communicate with entities such as deities. It can also help to develop your clairs. It's pretty simple to do and you can also do it via typing or probably even voice recording if those are more accessible for you. It involves writing your stream of consciousness without worrying about grammar or spelling.

Here is how you can do it:

Grab a notebook or whatever you are going to write/type with. Include a timer if you want to set a time limit.

Set up in a space where you will not be interrupted and have nothing distracting you. It can be quiet or with instrumental music (avoid music with lyrics unless you want to see if certain lyrics pop out to you).

Make an offering (optional) and pray to/invite the deity you want to speak to.You can use a divination tool to confirm their presence if you wish.

Ground and center yourself in the present. You want to get into a receptive, meditative state or as close to it as you are able to have.

Start writing. I usually start with something intentional to get the ball rolling such as "I am listening" or whatever just to get my hands moving.

Write everything that comes to mind or into your awareness - and do not try to control any of it or make judgements about it. You are just receiving right now. Don't worry about spelling or grammar or anything like that. If you smell chocolate then write that down. If you feel dumb doing this then write it down. If your mind is blank then write what you hear or smell or see or just write that your mind is blank.

You may notice in the moment that some things feel different or are definitely not your own thoughts. It may be easy to know what is your deity's message or it may not. If you do notice/feel something then you can write it down or make a little note with a symbol like a * or just be aware of it and continue.

Stop when the timer goes off or when it feels right or when your deity has delivered their message. Thank them.

Read over what you have written. I like to use highlighters here: one color for what was definitely my own thoughts and another for what I am certain is from the deity. You can also have a color for sensory observations, or wherever you're uncertain about where the thought or image comes from, or if you notice something that may be more towards the shadow work side of things or negative thoughts, etc.

Make a note on your experience. How did you feel? Did you sense any energies? Did you feel something different when you were getting down certain words? Reflect a bit on the experience.

If you want you can copy the results into a neater or summarised format then do so! If you have messy handwriting and some words are a mess then go in and make it clearer what the word is. You may look back months later and you don't want to be confused what word that one scribble is supposed to be! I have two journals, one to do this exercise in and one woth the neater notes and summaries.

It may take time to get comfortable doing this and to develop discernment but I've found it very helpful personally!

EDIT: This is not Automatic Writing. AW is when a spirit physically moves your hand so that you don't know what you're writing and is more akin to invoking and channeling (aka possession).

[ray-does-witchcraft]

Small Devotional Acts Masterpost

Updated Sept. 5th, 2017.

(Click here for latest version)

Made:

Aphrodite

Apollo

Ares

Artemis

Athena

Demeter

Dionysus 

Gaia

Hades

Hecate

Hephaestus

Hera

Hermes

Hestia

Hypnos

Iris

Nemesis

Nike

Nyx

Pan

Persephone

Poseidon

Thanatos

Zeus

To Make:

Keep reading

[ray-does-witchcraft]

A Collection of Greek Keywords for Hellenic Pagans (kharis, miasma, etc.)

Kharis:

Kharis means 'grace' or 'favour' and it is in reference to the reciprocal nature of our relationships with the gods.

Liddell and Scott describe it as, "A grace or favour felt on the part of the doer but more frequently on the part of the receiver in the form or thankfulness and gratitude."

It essentially means a favour done in delight. This can be both the offering we give to the gods, and the favours and blessings the gods bestow upon us.

Kharis is both the action of offering and worshipping and also what is built between a worshipper and a god through the actions of offering and reverence. It can be used like this:

'Giving an offering to the gods is an example of kharis.'

Or:

'I have built up kharis with Apollo over the years.'

Khaire/khairete:

Khaire or khairete are words that mean 'hail', 'farewell', or 'blessings'.

It can be used to greet someone, either as hello or farewell (I use it at the end of some of my posts). It can also be used at the end of a prayer.

Khaire is used to address one person or god, and khairete is used to address a group.

Miasma:

Miasma means 'stain', 'pollution', 'defilement', or 'stain of guilt'.

It is a type of spiritual pollution that a person or a place can collect through either happenstance or deliberate action. It makes us spiritually unclean but there is no damnation involved in miasma and thus is not similar to sin. Sin is more comparable to agos, which is mentioned later.

We tend to collect miasma while going about day-to-day life, almost like getting our hands dirty while working. The stain it refers to is always one of a spiritual nature; miasma is a strictly spiritual concept.

It makes a person or place ritually impure, hence it is inappropriate to interact with the divine while in a miasmic state. The gods are said to reject the offerings of a miasmic person or to vacate a miasmic place until it is cleansed.

Human blood is also considered to be miasmic when spilled outside of battle, though this is not the case for menstrual blood (although I tend to avoid praying and doing rituals during that week anyway as I consider it to not be my cleanest state possible. I use this time to tend to my altar physically instead, cleaning it and reorganizing it).

Miasma is very common, everyone gets it, mostly due to plain daily life, though sometimes due to deliberate actions. Miasma can always be cleansed.

Sources of miasma include:

Death in the home - Pollutes the grieving and the home. People and home need to be cleansed before interacting with the gods or going to temple.

Birth - Because of the blood involved. Mother and baby are considered by traditional standards to be miasmic for three days postpartum and both are generally cleansed at five days postpartum.

Intercourse - Both parties are polluted by the act and must be cleansed before interacting with the gods or going to temple.

M*rder/m*nsl*ughter - This collects both miasma and agos. The m*rderer becomes miasmic, and a place can become miasmic if a m*rderer is free and unpunished there. This does not apply to blood spilled in battle.

There is a line in Hesiod's Works and Days that refers to the action of cleansing oneself of miasma before interacting with the gods. It reads, "Never pour a libation of sparkling wine to Zeus after dawn with unwashen hands, nor to others of the deathless gods."

Khernips:

Khernips means 'handwash', or 'lustral water'.

It is basically Hellenic holy water. It is used to purify ourselves of miasma before interacting with the gods.

It can be made by dropping burnt herbs or laurel leaves (bay leaves) in clean water, or by dropping a lit match in clean water. Simply washing our hands in plain water can work symbolically as well if done with the specific intention of purifying oneself.

Agos:

Agos means 'curse', 'pollution', or 'abomination'.

It can be considered as a step up to miasma and, while not quite the same, it could also be considered comparable to sin. It is brought about through deliberate actions and it is very difficult, if not impossible, to cleanse. Agos can also invoke the divine wrath of the gods, so it does involve a form of damnation

Some things that cause/invoke agos include:

Having intercourse inside a temple

Temple robbing

M*rder

Bloodshed inside a temple or on sacred grounds

Broken xenia

The refusal to properly bury a family member or a soldier (even an enemy soldier)

K*lling someone who is under the gods' protection

Offering human blood to the gods (due to its miasmic nature)

Agos is hardly as common as miasma, so it is not something the general practitioner should worry about.

[ray-does-witchcraft]

The Witches’ Familiars 101

We’ve seen it on our dash, discord coven, twitter and even instagram: witches posting various animals and claiming it’s their familiar. But if you are fairly new and don’t know much about it, you ask yourself if your pet is your familiar and what is it.

Keep reading

[ray-does-witchcraft]

Familiars

What is a familiar? A familiar is an animal whom you have a spiritual connection with. A witches companion. You call upon them to help you with your practices. They can be physical or spiritual beings. They are healers and guardians but above all, a loyal companion. Provides the witch with psychic protection as well as negative energy. They do not have to be your ‘pet,’ any animal that you use symbols of can also be your familiar but on a more spiritual level. Animals are chosen as a familiar because of their connection with nature and innocence. They protect on many spiritual levels as well as the home and property of the witch. They become able to communicate together in dreams and during meditation.     

History of Familiars In Europe during the witch hunts familiars were thought of at demon like entities sent to do a witches bidding. It was believed that they were cats, dogs, and toads possessed by demons. Thus, during the witch hunt era many animals were hunted and slaughtered because of their connection with witches. Familiars were supposedly given to the Witches from by the Devil. It was believed that they were fed from the witches blood.

In some Scandinavian countries familiars were thought of as fearies, elves, pixies, dwarves, sprites, and elements of nature.

In shamanistic practices the familiar is in fact not a physical being rather it is a spiritual entity. It protects in the astral plane and from any psychic attacks.

In England and Scotland familiars took form of toads.

Familiar Misconceptions:

Not every witch has a familiar. In fact some are quite happy working alone. Some witches may even be allergic.

Cats are not the only animal used as a familiar.

No familiars are not possessed by demons or the devil.

Not all pets are familiars!

Types of animals to used as familiars: 

Any animal can be used as a familiar! The most common are cats (especially black) and dogs.

How you know it is your familiar and not just a pet:

It chose you.

You have a bond on a spiritual level.

You put more trust in it then anyone/anything else.

Takes an active role in your rituals.

Sits politely while you are casting being sure not to be a bother.

Loves to lounge in your magick work space.

You feel a boost of energy whenever they are near you.

Watches the window constantly watching for any unwelcome beings. 

Trails you like a shadow.

Hates to be separated from you

How to find your Familiar:

Cast a spell to bring clarity on your familiar.

Meditate on it.

Ask a form of divination about finding you familiar.

Ways to bond with your Familiar:

Provide it with a collar, halter, leash, etc that has protective crystals and herb sachets sewn into it. 

Carry a piece of a NATURALLY shed item from your familiar in a sachet or tied together with ribbon.

Provide them with the best food and housing you can afford.

Always place them before yourself.

Spend lots of time together.

Provide them with their own protection.

Speak to it.

Brush or stoke it. 

Treat them and reward them for their help.

Treat them with the kindness they deserve.

Honor them.

Provide them with an altar.

Give them offerings.

Familiar uses: 

Provide you with physical and spiritual protection.

Provide you the uttermost loyalty and respect

Benefits your emotional well being.

 Helps you connect with nature.

Enhances are physical and psychic abilities.

Protects home and property.

When to work with a Familiar:

When you want to attune with nature

Meditation

Healing magick

Dreamwork

Astral travelling 

Divination

Scrying

Spirit communication

Welcome them to join you when power is being raised and spells are cast. 

Respect a Familiar deserves:

Let it accompany you on its own accord and make sure it is willing to participate, NEVER force them to join in on a ritual. They are very sensitive to psychic power and vibrations. Treat them with kindness and the same respect you would give to a human being. Be sure to treat them as an equal and not something you own. This is very important if you want to create and maintain a connection with your familiar. Familiars are living beings and should never be treated like an athame, candle or an object for spell casting. Make sure to be cautious with the type of tools you are using during your casting with a familiar. Be cautious of candles or any toxic herbs!   

Names for familiars:

Instead of you choosing a name for them, ask them what their true name is.

References: Paganwiccan.about.com, pagancentric.org

What type of Familiar do you have?

I have a horse and a cat as my familiar! 

May the moon light your path!

☾ Moonlight Academy☽  

References: Paganwiccan.about.com, pagancentric.org

[ray-does-witchcraft]

Things to put in your book of shadows

Of course, only put in your book of shadows/grimoire what you want. If you don't want to put certain subjects in your book then that's fine. It's your book, utilize it how you want. This is just a masterlist of ideas that I've put together. Feel free to add anything else to the list that I may have missed, because there's absolutely no way I included everything.

And for the love of all the gods, if you come across a closed entity or practice, don't try to work with the entity or practice if you're not already part of that group or tradition. You can research it but don't practice it.

+ A blessing and/or protection

+ A table of contents

+ About you:

Your current path

Your personal beliefs

Your spiritual journey

Favorite crystals/herbs/animals

Natal chart

Craft name

How you got into the craft

Astrology signs

Birthday correspondences (birth tarot card, birth stone, etc)

Goals (if you have any)

Anything other relating to your personal practice

+ Safety

Fire safety

What NOT to burn

Plants and oils that can be toxic to your pets

What crystals shouldn't be in water, sunlight, etc

Things that shouldn't be put out in nature (salt, glass, etc)

Potion safety

How to incorporate blood safely

+ Core concepts:

Intention and how it works

Directing energy

Protection

Banishing

Cleansing

Charging

Shielding

Grounding and centering

Visualization

Consencration/Blessing

Warding

Enchanting

Manifestation

+ Correspondence

Personal correspondence

Crystals and rocks

Herbs and spices

Food and drink

Colors

Metals

Number

Tarot card

Elemental (fire, water, air, earth)

Trees and woods

Flowers

Days

Months

Moon phases

Zodiac

Planets

Incense

Teas

Essential oils

Directions (north, south, east, west)

Animals

Local plants, animals, etc

Dream symbology

+ Different practices

Practices that are closed to you (some examples below)

Voodoo and Hoodoo **Closed**

Santeria and Brujeria **Closed**

Shamanism and native american practices **Closed**

Wicca and wiccan paths

Satanism, both theistic and non-theistic paths

+ Different types/practices of magick

Pop culture magick

Technology magick

Chaos magick

Green witchcraft

Lunar magick

Sea witchcraft

Kitchen magick

Ceremonial magick

Hedge witchcraft

Death witchcraft

Grey witchcraft

Eclectic witchcraft

Norse witchcraft

Hellenic witchcraft

Animism

+ Deities

The deity/deities you worship

Different pantheons (the main five are Celtic, Roman, Greek, Egyptian and Norse, all open)

Deities and pantheons that are closed to you

Common offerings

Their epithets

Their mythology

Their family

Deity worship vs deity work

Prayers and how to make your own

Deity communication guide

Devotional acts

Ways to get closer to them

+ Other spiritual entities

Angels

Ancestor work

Spirit guides

The fae

Demons

Familiars

House spirits, animal spirits and plant spirits

Other various folklore entities

Spirit etiquette

Cemetery etiquette

Setting boundaries with the spirits

Communication guide and etiquette

Grounding, banishing, protection and cleansing, aka: "Spirit work safety guide"

How they appear to you

Common offerings

Circle casting

+ Divination

Tarot cards

Oracle cards

Tarot and oracle spreads

Pendulum

Numerology

Scrying

Palmistry/palm reading

Tasseography (Tea leaf reading)

Rune stones

Shufflemancy (Shuffling of a playlist)

Dice divination

Bibliomancy (Randomly picking a phrase from a book)

Carromancy (Melted wax)

Pyromancy (Reading flames)

Psychic abilities

Astrology

Aura reading

Divination via playing cards

Lenormand 

Sacred geometry

Angel numbers

+ Other types of magick

Candle magick

Crystal magick

Herbalism/herbal magick

Glamour magick

Hexing

Jinxing

Cursing

Weather magick

Astral work

Shadow work

Energy work

Sigils

Art magick

Knot magick

Crystal grids

Color grids

Music magick

Charms, talismans and amulets

+ Spellwork

What makes a spell work

Basic spell structure

What NOT to do

Disposing of spell ingredients

Revitalizing long term spells

How to cast spells

What to put in spells (See correspondence)

Spell mediums- Jar spells, spoken spells, candle spells, sigils, etc

Spell timing

Setting up a ritual

Taglocks: What they are and how to use them

+ Holidays and Esbats

Yule

Imbolc

Ostara

Beltane

Litha

Lughnasadh/Lammas

Mabon

Samhain

The 12 full moons (Esbats)

How to celebrate

Deity specific holidays

+ Altars and tools

What they are

The different types and their uses (travel altar, working altar, deity altar, ancestor altar, etc)

What you can put on your altar

What you use your altars for

Common tools in witchcraft

How to use the tools

Food and drink

Common herbs in recipes

Sabbat recipes

Moon water: What it is and how to use it

Potion bases

Tea magick

How to get your herbs

Foraging

+ Mental health and self care

Bath magick

Affirmations

Burnout prevention

Aromatherapy

Stress management

Mental health coping mechanisms

+ History of witchcraft

+ Dream records

+ How to differentiate between the magickal and the mundane

+ Calendar of celestial events (Esbats, retrogrades, etc)

+ How to dry herbs and flowers

+ What chakras actually are and how they work within Hinduism

+ History and traditional uses of reiki

+ The witches' alphabet

+ The runic alphabet

+ Common witchcraft terms

+ Common symbols in witchcraft

+ Your own witch tips

+ Good witchcraft books and authors to avoid

+ Any online resources you utilize often

[ray-does-witchcraft]

The Ultimate Grimoire Guide

So! I have been seeing a ton of grimoire ideas and thought I’d stuff them all together. A lot of ideas are from @manifestationsofasort, @banebite, and @pigeonflavouredcake. Check them out! They have a ton of cool stuff there.

What Do I Use For My Grimoire?

You can use anything for a grimoire! For a physical one, journals, binders, and notebooks are good. For digital ones, Notion, Tumblr, Docs, and even just your file folder are great.

Introduction

A Book Blessing

Table of Contents

About Me

Your Current Path

Your Personal Beliefs

Your Spiritual Journey

Superstitions

Past lives

Favorite Herbs/Crystals/Animals/Etc.

Natal Chart

Craft Name

How You Entered The Craft

Astrology Signs

Birthday Correspondences (birth tarot card, birth stone, etc.)

Goals

Safety

Fire Safety

What Not to Burn

Toxic Plants & Oils (to humans, plants, animals)

Crystals That Shouldn’t Be Put… (in sun, in water, etc.)

Things That Shouldn’t Be In Nature (glass, salt, etc.)

Potion Safety

How to Incorporate Blood in Spells

Smoke Safety

Wound Care

Biohazards

Core Concepts

Intention & How It Works

Directing Energy

Protection

Banishing

Cleansing

Binding

Charging

Shielding

Grounding

Centering

Visualization

Consecration/Blessing

Warding

Enchanting

Manifestation

Meditation

What Makes A Spell Work

Basic Spell Structure

What Not To Do In Spells

Disposing Spell Ingredients

Revitalizing Long Term Spells

How To Cast Spells

What To Put In Spells

Spell Mediums (jars, spoken, candle, sigils)

Spell Timing

Potion Bases

Differentiating Between Magick and Mundane

Common Terms

Common Symbols

Intuition

Elements

Basic Alchemy and Symbols

Ways To Break Spells

Laws and Philosophies

Correspondences

Herbs & Spices

Crystals & Rocks

Colors

Liquids & Drinks

Metals

Numbers

Tarot Cards

Elements

Trees & Woods

Flowers

Days

Months

Seasons

Moon Phases

Zodiacs

Planets

Incense

Teas

Essential Oils

Directions

Animals

Symbology

Bone Correspondences

Different Types of Water

Common Plants

Entities

Deities You Worship

Pantheons

Pantheons & Deities Closed to You

Common Offerings

Epithets

Mythos

Family

Worship vs Work

Prayers & Prayer Template

Altars

Deity Comms

Devotional Acts

Angels

Demons

Ancestors

Spirit Guides

Fae

Familiars

House, Animal, Plant, Etc. Spirits

Folklore Entities

Spirit Etiquette

Graveyard Etiquette

Boundaries

Communication Guide & Etiquette

Spirit Work Safety Guide

How Entities Appear To You

Circle Casting

Common Offerings

Altars

Servitors

Mythological Creatures (dragons, gorgons, etc.)

Utility Pages

Gazing Pages

Sigil Charging Station

Altar Pages

Intent Pages

Getaway Pages

Vision Boards

Dream Pages

Binding Page

Pendulum Board

Crystal Grid

Throwing Bones Page

Divination Pages

Mirror Gazing Page

Invocation Pages

Affirmation/Manifestation Pages

Spirit Board Page

Other Practices

Practices That Are Closed to You (Voodoo, Hoodoo, Santeria, Brujeria, Shamanism, Native Practices)

Wicca and Wiccan Paths

Satanism, Both Theistic and Non-Theistic

Deity Work

Religious Paths (Hellenism, Christianity, Kemeticism, etc.)

Animism

Types of Magic/Spells

Pop Culture Paganism/Magic

Tech Magic

Chaos Magic

Green Magic

Lunar Magic

Solar Magic

Sea Magic

Kitchen Magic

Ceremonial Magic

Hedge Magic

Death Magic

Gray Magic

Eclectic Magic

Elemental Magic

Fae Magic

Spirit Magic

Candle Magic

Crystal Magic

Herbalism

Glamours

Hexes

Jinxes

Curses

Weather Magic

Astral Magic

Shadow Work

Energy Work

Sigils

Art Magic

Knot Magic

Music Magic

Blood Magic

Bath Magic

Affirmations

Divination

Tarot Cards

Oracle Cards

Playing Cards

Card Spreads

Pendulum

Numerology

Scrying

Palmistry

Tasseography

Runes

Shufflemancy

Dice

Bibliomancy

Carromancy

Pyromancy

Psychic Abilities

Astrology

Auras

Lenormand

Sacred Geometry

Angel Numbers

Ornithomancy

Aeromancy

Aleuromancy

Axinomancy

Belomancy

Hydromancy

Lecanomancy

Necromancy

Oneiromancy

Onomancy

Oomancy

Phyllomancy

Psephomancy

Rhabdomancy

Xylomancy

Tools

Crystal grid

Candle grid

Charms

Talismans

Amulets

Taglocks

Wand

Broom

Athame

Boline

Cingulum

Stang

Bells

Drums

Staffs

Chalices

Cauldrons

Witches Ladder

Poppets

Holidays

Yule

Imbolc

Ostara

Beltane

Litha

Lammas

Mabon

Samhain

Esbats

Deity Specific Holidays

Religious Holidays (Christmas, Easter, Dionysia, etc.)

Celestial Events

Altars

Basics of Altars

Travel Altars

Deity Altars

Spirit Altars

Familiar Altars

Ancestor Altars

Self Altars

Working Altars

Self-Care

Burnout Prevention

Aromatherapy

Stress Management

Coping Mechanisms

Theories & History

Witchcraft history

Paganism

New Age Spirituality

Cultural Appropriation

Thelema

Conspiracy Theories

Cults

Satanic Panic

KJV

Witches in History

Cats in History

Transphobia in Witchcraft Circles

Queerness in Witchcraft Circles

Other

Recipes

How to Get Herbs

Foraging

Drying Herbs and Flowers

Chakras

Reiki

Witches Alphabet

Runic Alphabet

Guide to Gardening

Your Witch Tips

Resources

Other Tips

List of Spells

Cryptids and Their Lore

What is a Liminal Space?

[ray-does-witchcraft]

How to Write Your Own Spells

There are lots of ways to create spells, from planning everything to the minutest detail ahead of time to absolutely flying by the seat of your pants in the moment. If you'd like to write your own spells, either for use in your craft or as a creative exercise, here are some suggested steps that I use in my own practice:

1) Determine the intent or goal of your spell. Decide, first and foremost, what you want the spell to do. Refine your goal if necessary and try not to be too nebulous. Your intent tells the spell what it's meant to do. A more focused goal may increase the chances of success.

2) Determine how you want the spell to manifest. Decide how the spell should work and what the result should look like. This is a good time to build in a sign of success, especially for spells that may not work in an obvious or visible way.

3) Determine what or whom the spell will affect. If the spell is to have a target, be it a person or a place or an animal or an object, decide what that should be and how they or it will be represented in the casting.

4) Determine how long the spell is meant to work. If your spell is timebound or has a deadline, decide what that will be. If the spell is meant to work long-term, you may want to check in and refresh it from time to time. (Not every spell will be timebound. Many spells will simply expire when they have fulfilled their purpose or if they are blocked or circumstances are not favorable.)

5) Determine the timing of the spell, if applicable. Not everyone uses celestial or astrological timing for their spells, but if you do, look into the prevailing conditions and decide on an advantageous time for your casting. (Please note that magical timing can only enhance your spell and casting something on the "wrong" day will not necessarily cause it to fail.)

6) Determine what methods and materials you want to use to cast the spell. Decide how you're going to go about performing the casting, whether you're doing a ritual or making a charm or just using energy. If you're going to need a ritual space or physical components, plan that out and make sure it fits with what you want to do.

7) Determine the words, if any, which will empower the spell. If you want to include a prayer or a petition or a song or an incantation with your spell, decide what that should be. This is not strictly necessary and the words need not be spoken aloud. (Rhyming incantations are not required, but if you prefer them that way, you can certainly do so.)

8) Prepare the materials for casting the spell. Get all your necessaries together ahead of time. Make sure you have everything you need, that tools and components are in good and useable condition, prepare your workspace, and make sure everything is within easy reach so you don't have to stop and search for things in the middle of your casting. (And for goodness sake, if you're working with open flame, observe fire safety and tie your hair and sleeves back.)

9) Finalize details and perform the casting. When you're ready to begin, try to eliminate as many possibilities for distraction or interruption as possible. Go over your spell and components one more time, then proceed with casting the spell.

10) Record the particulars for future reference and to determine how well the spell worked. Make a record of the spell, including your goal, how it should manifest, the words and components used, the date of the casting, the casting method and procedure, and how the casting went. If there are any additional details or observations that seem important, include those as well. This will serve as a useful learning tool in the future and will allow you to check your work if the results make themselves known.

It's useful to write spells from time to time if the inspiration strikes you, in order to better understand how they fit together and how they work. Plus it's a fun and creative journaling exercise and recording the spells you cast a great way to measure your progress later on.

For additional tips on writing your own spells and helpful tricks for using timing and available materials to your advantage, check out my podcast, Hex Positive, Eps. 006-007, "Come In For A Spell, pt 1 & 2."

(And if you’re enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar or check out my published works on Amazon or in the Willow Wings Witch Shop. 😊)

Happy Witching! 🔮✨