sigil-crafter - Tumblr blog

[sigil-crafter]

Hellenic Polytheism Masterpost

Hi everyone! I know there are a lot of these out there, but here are my personal favorite resources. I linked to the source on all the posts I could, but as some blogs have been deactivated, the links for those are just to my reblog. Also, the blogs whose posts I’ve linked here have many more resources, so check them out! Hope this helps!

Blogs, Websites, and Masterposts

Theoi.com An essential resource for myths, cults, and historical information on the Gods

Theoi.com’s library of classic texts

thegrapeandthefig’s Masterpost

List of Greek Gods & Goddesses

Delphic Maxims MasterpostModern insights into the Delphic Maxims

Offerings & Worship

Small Devotional Acts Masterpost

Things you could put in a devotional journal

Methods to Bond with Deities

Greek God Offerings

Worship for Chthonic deities

The Theoi in our Actions

Simple offerings to the Greek Gods

Offerings

How to Build Kharis

Respecting the Gods

Pillars of Hellenismos

Prayer

How to make a libation

Libations: Pouring One Out for Your (Godly) Homie

Easy Ways to Connect More Strongly with Your Dieties

Ways to Get Messages From Deities

Offerings for Deities

Tips & Advice

Advice for baby Hellenic Polytheists

Struggling Polythiest Tips

Advice to anyone who is just starting out on this path

Chthonic worship tip

Spoonie Devotional Tips

Worshipping the Pantheon

Before entering into a Contract with a Deity

Critical Thinking

Hubris

Signs You AREN’T Talking to Your Diety

Mythic Context is Everything

How NOT to act with the Gods

Things I have learned as a Hellenic Pagan

Basics of Ancient Greek

The Basic Basics of Ancient Greek

More Basic Basics of Ancient Greek: How to pray the ancient way

Who to Avoid

People to Watch Out For in Hellenic Polytheism

Hellenic Polytheist Groups to Avoid

Miscellaneous Posts

Former Christian Guilt

Connection with the Gods

Mentally Ill Worshippers

Reading outside the Myths

Hellenic Polytheism and Depression

Zeus and Hera in Myth vs. Cult

Introduction to The Underworld as Understood in Ancient Hellas

Xenia, and why it is our duty as Hellenic Polythiests/Pagans to be anti-racist and anti-fascist

[sigil-crafter]

Things you could put in a devotional journal

•Their names in Ancient Greek, transliterated, translated, and pronunciation •Epithets (traditional and upg) •Favourite myths •Retelling/interpretation of the myths •Other information about Them •A photo or drawing of how They appear to you or that you think of as resembling Them •Delphic maxims •Key words in both languages and what they mean •An altar page or photo of an altar •Hymns, prayers, poems and stories •Pictures of other things you’ve made for Them •Updates on skills you’re learning in worship of Them •Letters you write to Them about anything at all (could just be telling them about your day or whatever) •Specific tarot spreads •Readings and conversations you’ve had with Them •Sacred animals/plants/colours/food/symbols etc (or just ones that make you think of Them) •Drawings/paintings/collages for Them •Experiences and encounters •Worship days/holidays/celebrations •Ideas for things you could do/make/give in offering (including low spoons devotional ideas) •Playlists •Books and movies that remind you of them •Aesthetic and word associations lists •Places that remind you of Them •Any other upg stuff •Quotes •Any signs or dreams etc you think might have been from them •Checklists for things you want to do for Them or have done and want to do again •Stick in pictures or dried flowers •Charities or other causes you can give to

*I’m mostly posting this for myself just to have the list saved but if anyone has any other ideas please feel free to add to it! I love having new things to add to my journals

[sigil-crafter]

These are not mine, nor am I claiming them to be. The information here is good & I needed a place to save it for when I can incorporate it into my home.

[sigil-crafter]

Ideas for Deity Worship

1. Keep a journal. Preferably one with something that represents them {ie: Leopard printed for Dionysus etc.} But anything would do. Record offerings/ rituals or spells with said deitie(s), art, poems, or even using it as a method of communication.

2. Playlists for your Deities of songs you associate with them or that they like (found out via Divination)

3. Lollipops as offerings. You can base it of color (yellow for Apollo), shape (heart for Aphrodite), or flavor (Grape for Dionysus). Easy and broom closet friendly!

4. Wearing certain clothes can be offerings. Like color correspondences or symbols or even personal value. [Ie a lucky piece of jewelry for Tyche]

These are not only options you can do! There are other ways to honor Deities and these don't always have to be done, especially if their is a reason you can't. Do what works for you!

[sigil-crafter]

Dollar Tree witchy stuff

————————————————-⭐——————————————————

This is a list of Dollar Tree witch items! These are perfect for beginner witches and witches on a budget. I’ll be listing things you can find and their uses. Please note that your Dollar Tree may not have some of these items, and that these materials may not have significance in your craft (and frankly, you don’t need them! you do not need any materials to be into witchcraft!).

————————————————-⭐——————————————————

Jars

Number one is jars! There are all sorts of jars at Dollar Tree. My personal favorites are the small corked jars you can buy in the craft section. These are perfect for spells! Of course, they always have small mason jars and other containers, but I would definitley recommend the small corked jars. 

Candles

Candles are perfect to buy at Dollar Tree! I get all of my candles from them. They have candles in almost every color and size! I use candles in my daily practice, mainly for worshipping my deities. I light candles both as offerings, and to symbolize my deities presence. Many spells and rituals involve lighting candles and letting candles burn down. Dollar Tree has the best supply of prayer and glass contained candles that are great for deity worship and long term use, but they also have huge packs of tea light candles, which I would recommend for spell work.

They also have small wax melters and wax cubes that you can use for a flame free alternative to candles!

Incense

Incense! Dollar Tree has loads of Incense to choose from. A lot of these come in packages that include incense sticks and holders, so it’s perfect to get you started. They not only have specific scents, they also have blends made for certain intentions. I have one for mindfulness, but I don’t care for how it smells, so I don’t use it very often. I use incense as offerings to my gods, but also to cleanse spaces and to set an intention during meditation.

Oils

Essential oils can be found in our good pal Dollar Tree. Their properties and usage vary from type to type, but I mainly use essential oils to anoint things and to dress candles.

Herbs and other edible items

Dollar Tree has a surprising amount of herbs. Cinnamon and thyme are two basic herbs you can find at almost every Dollar Tree. Once my local Dollar Tree had bay leaves, but I haven’t seen them since then. If you’re looking for some staple and versatile herbs, Dollar Tree probably has them. Cinnamon is good for purification, protection, abundance, love magic, and boosting other properties of things in the spell with it. I use cinnamon very often in my practice.

SALT! Salt is extremely cheap but a STAPLE of my craft. I use it in almost all of my spell work because it has so many properties! I use it a lot for protection and amplifiying energies.

There are also other food items, like dark chocolate. I’ve found that chocolate is a very good offering for Hades, and that he likes it a lot. If you’re working with deities or spirits, I would recommend looking around your Dollar Tree to see if you can find any foodstuffs they might enjoy, like sweets, nuts and crackers.

Offering dishes

Offering dishes are by no means a required part of working with deities and spirits. I personally don’t have any offering dishes, but I have seen several small vases, plates, bowls, and dishes that would make good offering bowls. Offering dishes are used to show your deities where their offerings are and designate a space for their physical offerings.

 Altars

Dollar Tree has LOADS of stuff for altars. I found that they have lots of wooden crates and boxes, as well as desk organizers. These all could be used as small sacred spaces and can be devoted to a deity or spirit (or even to yourself!) and used as an altar. This is perfect for people who don’t have space to devote a large area to their craft.

They also have tons of stuff for decor. If you want to decorate your altar according to seasons/sabbats/esbats, dollar tree has loads of stuff to decorate with.

Some other things you could get for your altar is an altar cloth and some candle holders. An altar cloth is similar to an offering dish in the way that it designates a space to your practice, but it also protects the surface youre working on from damage! Any towel or table runner will do. Candle holders are self explanitory.

————————————————-⭐——————————————————

[sigil-crafter]

“Safe Travels”

A sigil to help you arrive to your destination safely. You can put this on the dashboard of your car, or maybe on the back of your bus pass!

Use as you wish but please do not repost!

[sigil-crafter]

Witchcraft on a Budget

We don’t all have the funds for elaborate altars and extensive collections of tools. Here are some tips for shopping sales and using stuff around your home.

Use the contents of teabags for your spells. If you’ve already got a collection of teas, why not incorporate them into your practice.

Grow your own herbs. If you’ve got the space to, grow herbs in your garden, balcony, windowsill. Research what plants work best for your situation. You can also grow many grocery store herbs by sticking them in a jar of water!

Learn the magical properties of your spices. If you like to cook, you probably have a collection of your preferred herbs and spices in your cabinet. Make a list of their uses so you can substitute them in spells or craft your own spells. 

Shop the clearance aisle. Craft stores often have jars and bottles of all sizes that end up in the clearance section. Stores that sell home goods will sometimes have candles on clearance. 

Use birthday candles. You can get handfuls of birthday candles at the grocery store for cheap. Don’t worry about getting fancy candles when any candle will work just as well. They also often come in a variety of colors that you can use for different correspondences.

Make a pocket altar. Maybe you don’t have the space or money for a large altar. That’s ok! Re-use a small box or tin and fill it with symbols of your craft and deity if you have one. 

Save orange peels. If you like to eat oranges, dry out the peels in the sun after you are done with them. They can be crushed up and used in spells for positivity or energy. You can also use the peels to make essential oil.

Buy zines. You don’t have to shell out $60 for a new book on witchcraft. There are many etsy shops that offer guides to witchcraft for under $10. If you can’t pay shipping fees, many shops also offer digital versions. You can also look for local witch shops and bookstores that may have free or cheap zines. 

Use crushed eggshells. Eggshells can be used in place of salt to line doorways and protect your home. Be sure to rinse them. This can also be a more environmentally friendly way of protection because salt can damage soil and harm local flora and fauna. 

image from pixabay

[sigil-crafter]

Autumn spell

If you live in a area where the trees shed their leaves, this would be a good low level spell. You can ground and cleanse yourself as you walk outside looking for your leaves. You can chose colors that correspond to intentions. Use colored ink to write with. And cleanse and recharge as you cast them into the wind. It is nice in it's simplicity.

[sigil-crafter]

Witchcraft: Common Usable Household Items

[sigil-crafter]

MIRROR MAGIC

Mirror magic can be a great way to see yourself better, to give yourself healing energy and love, for scrying, and can even be used to see yourself in a past life. Reflective surfaces have been used for millennia for magic of all purposes, including scrying and seeing the truth of a situation. They were thought by some to be portals, similar to Alice in Through the Looking Glass.

What do you do when you look in the mirror? Do you check your teeth to see if you have food stuck in them? Do you obsess over tiny imperfections, such as blemishes that no one else sees but you? Whatever we do when we first look in the mirror is what’s known as automatic programming. Usually, it’s a fear-based action to protect us from looking bad to others. In this section, we’ll make a conscious change from fear-based actions to practice mirror magic, the essence of which is love-based.

Your reflection is a product of the light (or absence thereof); the warmth or color of the light; the angle you tilt your head; the quality of the mirror; and the emotion you hold. Mirrors reflect our energy back to us. If we can connect with that energy, we can raise it to create magic.

Give Yourself Energy

Gaze at your reflection and enter a trance state. Breathe in love for yourself. As you exhale, give your reflection love. Receive the love from your reflection with every inhale. Feel the energy grow between yourself and your reflection, and let the exchange intensify.

Self-Love

Self-love is some of the most powerful magics there is. This practice isn’t unruly or narcissistic, but rather, a warm supporting love that calms the mind.

Look in the mirror. Stop any automatic programming that may arise and stare softly at your face. Notice what you admire the most about yourself — maybe you have nice cheeks or beautiful eyes. Smile gently at yourself while thinking about radical self-acceptance and love. Look beyond the surface of your skin and bring out the brilliant beauty of your soul.

Give yourself a compliment. Tell your reflection something like, “I love you. I adore you. I care about you so much. You’re magnificent,” or any other powerful affirmations. Accept these statements with grace and ease. Tell yourself, “thank you,” and mean it. See if you can create an energy fountain with your love.

This kind of mirror magic can be used for healing. It’s a great way to remove energetic blocks, cultivate a love of our perfect imperfections, and to be present in the moment.

If this practice makes you feel uncomfortable, imagine that you’re saying these kind and true words to your higher self and know that they see you that way, most certainly. Or, think about it this way. If you wouldn’t let your friend talk about themselves negatively, you shouldn’t let yourself talk that way, either. This is the perfect magic to be your own friend and extend the same respect to yourself. With time, it’ll become easier to accept love from yourself. Having compassion for yourself is magical, indeed.

Enchant Your Reflection (Glamor)

Mirror magic can be used to enchant our appearances. To enchant yourself, enter into a trance state. Tilt your head different ways until you see yourself in a new light. See yourself as beautiful or handsome. Turn up the charm — put stars into your eyes until you see sparkles in your reflection. Use your will to change your appearance slightly. See yourself as any number of things — younger, older, more desirable, etc. Like energetic cloaks, enchanting and glamor requires focus and can take energy to maintain. It’s best used for short periods of time, such as a performance or a photo shoot.

Draw Symbols and Sigils In Your Aura

One of my favorite things to do when I’m in a higher spiritual energetic state is to draw sigils in my aura. When we combine that with mirror magic, we have a powerful visualization and perfect placement of any magical symbols you want.

Stare at your reflection and bring on a trance state. Draw symbols or sigils with a finger dipped in essential oil or a lit incense stick. Go slowly, feeling the meaning of every curve and line of the symbol. With your second sight, see the sigils glowing with power. Hold the vision for as long as you can. To recharge them, send energy to them and envision them glowing again.

Past-Life Vision

Come close to the mirror. Stare into your eyes and enter a trance state. Let your eyes become a portal to another world. Allow the world dissolve around you into nothingness.

You may see yourself as eyes without a face or a body. Go deeper into the trance. See if you can see yourself with a different face, or with different clothing, or in a strange environment.

Scry

Scrying is one of the more difficult divination methods to master, but a very visual person will likely find their footing here. Enter a trance an look upon and into an object such as a black mirror, a pool of water, or a crystal ball. You may see figures and shapes, which can be interpreted as different things, and you may see a storyline play out. Keep at it. Practice, a good trance, and intuition are essential tools for this work.

Carry the Magic With You

Compacts and pocket mirrors are perfect ways to reset your energy in a relatively unnoticed way in public. Program your mirrors with one of the methods above. When you’re out and about, peek at the mirror and see yourself with the magic. All it takes is one look and you’ve reactivated the magic. If you use this mirror outside your home, cleanse it every once in a while. (just make sure it's warded so you don't carry around a portable portal lol)

MIRROR WARDING

Mirror warding is usually for old mirrors with silver backing, but they can still be useful for modern mirrors and probably should still be used in modern day. Especially for mirrors facing each other, you want to ward them to ensure they don't create a portal.

To ward a mirror, First cleanse it spiritually and physically. You can then take your own spit, florida water, protection oil, moon water, or whatever else and draw a sigil or rune for protection on the mirror. You can also wash the mirror in florida water or just line the border with it. I like to place my palm in the middle of the mirror after doing this to envision my hand locking the mirror.

MIRROR SPELLS

Mirrors can also be used in spellwork to reflect what was sent to you. or as a hex you give someone. The latter takes a bit of trickery but its easy if they don't know what they're doing.

For return to sender spells using a mirror, take a piece of paper and write the name of whoever sent shit to you, or just the word "negativity" or "return to sender" and fold it away from you. Take a small mirror and prop the folded paper on the mirror face down like a little tent. Circle it with black salt and say whatever you want to it. You can even say shit like "your energy is not wanted or needed here. Take back what you have sent me immediately" and burn the paper on the mirror right there.

For the hex/trickery thing… This involves them doing it, so it will take a bit of finesse. All they need is a small mirror, a black candle, and their reflection. Have them drip black wax over the mirror until they can no longer see their reflection. Tell them to take it home and put it in a window with the black wax facing out. It will basically lock their negativity and troubles in on themselves and localize it to just themself.

For more information about mirror magic, mirror superstitions, glamours, or anything else thats witchy, come check out the Cobalt Athenaeum Discord Server!

[sigil-crafter]

A sigil for prying eyes to look away, I use this one in my book of shadows!

Use as you wish, just don’t repost :]

[sigil-crafter]

I am finding a new, earth friendly diet. I have also found Abigail’s Twitter.

[sigil-crafter]

A sigil for bravery, this will give you a little boost if you can’t quite convince yourself to do something scary!

Use as you wish in your own craft but please do not repost *~

[sigil-crafter]

Reminder that witch labels (EG, green witch, kitchen witch, storm witch, etc.) are an extremely recent convention. If a label works for you, that's fine - but don't feel like you have to label yourself, let alone force yourself into some kind of box.

[sigil-crafter]

This sigil is very similar to my Witch sigil with a bit of extra flair! Use as you wish!

[sigil-crafter]

A Sigil to use to identify yourself as a witch, use as you wish.

[sigil-crafter]

🔔 BELLS IN WITCHCRAFT 🔔

Bells might just be the earliest form of superstitious practise that I remember. My baba attached three sakura-patterned suzu bells on my schoolbag as a kid, purportedly for good luck and protection from evil spirits – and Japan is far from the only place to have associated bells and bellringing with mystic practise. They’ve been used worldwide to ward off evil and carry messages – and in a more metaphysical sense, sound is the movement of energy through substance. Sounds have the potential to work powerful magic.

Here are some of the ways I’ve found utilising bells to be helpful to my craft. While I’m more likely to use traditional suzu type bells, your own background, path and culture will likely have its own types of bells – and as ever, bells can be ornate antiques or they can be a bottle cap in a tin can, as long as they’re used with intent.

GETTING STARTED

🔔 As with so much of the craft, if you’re new to the witching bell, it’s a matter of exploration and experimentation. Get a “feel” for what works for you and the specific bell you’re using.

🔔 It’s good practise to ensure that the bell itself is cleansed, warded and protected – you don’t want anything nasty tapping into that power. All witching tools can do as much harm as good, intentional or accidental.

🔔 A good way to begin incorporating bells into your craft is infuse them into any typical ritual that you’re comfortable with, or even just a prayer or moment of contemplation at your altar if you have one.

🔔 Give the bell a soft ring while focusing on the energy it’ll ripple and move, try to track the movements it creates and what it touches. The tone it’s sending out.  The most primal and versatile use of the bell – and what many of the below come down to – is simply another manner of physically channelling energy, giving it shape and direction.

PROTECTION

🔔 “Passive” bells such as windchimes or small bells attached to belongings you don’t want disturbed are a starting point. They will scare off some forms of spirit all by themselves, especially if appropriately blessed, charmed or enchanted. Or cursed.

🔔 Gently tolling can draw energy into a ward or circle you are forming and enforce its protective properties, or for a simple cleanse, letting the sound travel to every corner of the area you are protecting. It’s a little more “cutting” than a smoke or incense cleansing, which I view as more “gentle” forms of cleansing. Both have their uses.

🔔 Harder tolling is, in my opinion, one of the most powerful ways in which to enforce a banishing – however, it’s best to you know what you’re doing with the bell before you go bashing it about.

DISCERNMENT

🔔 Bells can have quite the effect on your perception and awareness. Ringing and then stopping, listening to the silence left in its wake, can bring you new perceptions or make things you’d previously missed obvious. Let it attune your mind and senses to something new, whether that’s in your thoughts or something with a little more presence. Visualise travelling with the sound, taking heed of the energies it touches and disturbs. Take note of the echoes – you’ll learn what they mean with experience.

🔔 A set of windchimes can let you know if something is passing through or if there’s some unusual energy afoot – and, yes, it may also just be letting you know that it’s a particularly breezy day, but that’s witchcraft for you.

CONJURING

🔔 This can be as simple as calling good energies to witching tools, spell jars, tarot decks, crystals, altars and shrines, your favourite teddy bar, anything at all.

🔔 With spirit work, it can truly help to magnify your “calling”. This can range from gently bringing your latest offering to the attention of your friendly neighbourhood house spirit – all the way to trying to catch the attention of something more. Be mindful, however. As I said, I consider bells pretty powerful tools and a call that’s too loud is not good spirit work practise for the spirit worker’s own sake. It can really help coax something out of hiding if you’re gentle with it, though.

COMMUNING

🔔 Some use bells to mark the beginning and end of a ritual, and I’ve read that in Wiccan practise an altar bell can be used to invoke the Goddess, although as a non-Wiccan, I’ll welcome corrections on that if I’m wrong.

🔔 In my experience, very simple forms of communication via bell work a lot better than anything too complex – “come here” and “stay away” have already been covered, and other than that they can serve as greetings or signals of a start or end of some practise or ritual, the opening or closing of a door, etc.

🔔 They can also serve as a warning or a litmus test regarding spirits, a signalling of your presence and awareness, lack of fear, or willingness to defend – but be prepared to deal with whatever responses these garner.

BINDING

🔔 Bindings are where you most often see that famous (clockwise) circular motion of the bell, embodying the meaning of the spell. This can be a simple binding to seal a spell or charm or enchantment, or a spirit-binding.

🔔 Personally, spirit-binding is something I do as little as possible simply due to my beliefs holding the autonomy of spirits in very high regard. However, sometimes situations arise that call for it, and I’m aware that not all bindings are unwilling. Far from it – and some spirits are dangerous when unbound.

🔔 As an animist (believing that all things, including inanimate objects, contain a spirit of their own), I consider gently nudging a spirit back into its physical form a sort of semi-binding, and that can be useful.

I’ll leave you all with a note that I am an urban apartment-dwelling witch through and through, so I understand that we can’t all be jangling away at all hours. I myself have a glass windchime in my front window that makes a distinct but muted sound when disturbed by passers-through, and highly recommend wooden ones also. I also only use my small and relatively quiet suzu bell for my crafting – one given to me by my baba herself.

Feel free to add any of your own findings, and happy tolling.