#Best Ingredients for Powerful Binding Spells

[venniekocsis]

Centarfican Binding Techniques and Recipes

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[tiredwitchplant]

How to Use Herbs : Rosemary

Hwello there. We have talked about rosemary and its uses in a previous post. If you haven't read it, please click here: Rosemary

Now I shall provide some spells, tonics, recipes and etc on where you can utilize it. Let us begin :)

Author's Note: From I noticed a part is usually a teaspoon. You can add more according to your needs, but I would always start with that measurement first.

Alchemist Formula for Binding:

One part benzoin gum (Saturn, binding)

One part patchouli (Saturn,binding)

One part Solomon's seal (Saturn, protective)

One part rosemary oil (Saturn, protective)

One part frankincense oil (Sun, success)

Mental Focus Magical Tea:

I part rosemary

1/2 part spearmint

1 cup of boiling water

Mix herbs in a small jar

To brew, pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 teaspoon of the herbal blend.

Steep for 5 - 7 minute. Strain and drink.

Spells:

Remembrance for Lost Love (Heartache Healer)

6 drops of rosemary oil

3 drops of peppermint oil

1 drop of lavender oil

White candle

Add the oil to the top of the candle, one at a time, in a clockwise direction around the wick.

LIght the candle and gaze into the flame

Visualize your fond memories of the person who left your life. As you do this say, "I thank you for the time we had together, I thank you for the love we shared, I thank you for being an important part of my life. We have parted, we move on, we remember. I wish you the best life has to offer and hope you have found happiness."

Allow the candle to burn out of its own and dispose of the remaining wax away from your home or bury it in the spot you and the past partner enjoyed together.

Broom Cleansing Spell

 Use one or any combination of the following botanicals: broom, cedar,fennel, hyssop, rosemary, sage, vervain.

Arrange the botanicals and tie them to the bottom of a branch withraffia, visualizing, charging and knotting. (Any branch may be used,however an ash branch is considered particularly powerful.)

Sprinkle with salted water or any preferred purification formula.

Sweep the area.

Disassemble the broom outside, away from the cleansed space.

 Bury the components in the ground or toss them into living waters, flowing away from you.

Ghost Keep Away Spell (Boundary Line Spell)

Place three peeled cloves of garlic in a bowl, together with one handful of sea salt and one handful of fresh rosemary leaves.

Grind and mash the ingredients together.

Sprinkle them to create a boundary, as needed.

Bad Habits Bath

Add the following to a tub filled with warm water:

Essential oil of clary sage

Essential oil of frankincense

Essential oil of lavender

Essential oil of lemongrass or May Chang

Essential oil of rosemary

Enter the bath and inhale the fragrance, and accompany with affirmations and positive visualizations.

Kitchen Witch Recipes:

Super-Quick Bonus Recipe for Gwion’s Red Onion Pickle Bliss

Fills one pint-sized jar

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 20 minutes, plus 30 minutes to cool in the fridge

1 medium red onion

3 tablespoons sugar

1/2 cup water

10 black peppercorns

2/3 cup white wine vinegar,

rice vinegar, or apple cider vinegar

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 sprig rosemary

1 clove garlic, peeled and halved

Slice the onion very thinly and place it in your clean, dry jar. Set it aside.

Add the rest of the ingredients to a medium saucepan and bring to a boil until the sugar has fully dissolved. Stir carefully so you don’t break the rosemary. The sprig is in there to add flavour, and you’ll discard it before the next step.

Let the pickling mixture (the water, vinegar, and spices) cool down for about 10 minutes. Discard the sprig of rosemary and pour the remaining

ingredients into the jar of onions. Make sure all of the onions are submerged

in the picking liquid. If you have to, use a spoon to push the onions down in the jar. Seal the jar and put it in the fridge to cool. The onions are ready to eat once they are cool, about 30 minutes.

Serve them on avocado toast, burgers, salads, or just with a fork straight out of the jar. Remember to kiss your partner or partners before eating the onions out of the jar, unless they’re into pungent kisses.

Goat for a God: Roasted Goat Leg with Grape Molasses

Great for Deities: Dionysus, Pan and Thor

Serves : 6

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cooking Time: 2 hours and 30 minutes

1 goat leg (about 3 pounds)

1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon olive oil

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon cumin

2 teaspoons black pepper

4 tablespoons grape molasses

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon coriander

2 sprigs fresh rosemary

1 cup white wine + one glass for sipping and toasting while cooking (use mead if you're cooking this for Thor)

1 bay leaf

2 large carrots, chopped into

1" chunks

1 celery root, peeled and chopped into 1" cubes

Open the bottle of white wine or mead and take a hefty drink. (This is optional but deities do like when you drink with them but they can respect if you don't partake.)

Preheat the oven to 375° F.

Liberally season the goat leg with salt and pepper.

Rub the minced garlic all over the goat leg too. If it helps, poke a few holes in the goat leg so you can get the garlic right into the meat.

Place the rosemary sprigs and bay leaf in the bottom of a large roasting pan and put the goat leg right on top. Add the carrots and celery root around the edges. Pour the olive oil all over the goat and rub it around. Coat the carrots and celery root too.

Pour the white wine around the bottom of the roasting pan.

Loosely cover with kitchen foil and put the whole pan into the oven for 2 hours.

About an hour and forty-five minutes into the cooking process, it’s time to make the glaze.

Mix the grape molasses—which is a super-condensed syrup made of grape must—in a bowl with a tablespoon of olive oil, the coriander, and the cumin. You can substitute honey for the grape molasses if for Thor.

At the two-hour mark, pull the roasting pan out of the oven and paint the goat with the grape (or honey) and spice glaze.

Pop the goat and veggies, uncovered, back into the oven for another 20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches at least 145° F.

When you’re ready to serve this dish, scoop the veggies into a bowl (fornow) and put the goat leg on a platter. If you have access to one, get a cedar plank and serve the goat on it.

Medical Tonics and Infusions:

Infusion- An infusion is the simplest way to prepare the more delicate aerial parts of plants, especially leaves and flowers, for use as a medicine or as a revitalizing or relaxing drink. It is made in a similar way to tea, using either a single herb or a combination of herbs, and may be drunk hot or cold.

Pot Infusion

For a cup:

1 tsp (2–3 g) dried or 2 tsp (4–6 g) fresh herb (or mixture of herbs) to a cup of water

For a pot:

20 g dried herb or 30 g fresh herb (or a mixture of different herbs) to 2 cups (500 ml) of water

Warm the pot, then add the herb.

Pour in water that has just boiled, replace the lid, and infuse for 10 minutes.

Strain some of the infusion into a cup. A teaspoon of honey may be added if desired.

Storage:

Store in a covered jug in a refrigerator or cool place for up to 24 hours.

Tonic Making

Standard Quantity:

200 g dried or 300 g fresh herb chopped into small pieces to 1 quart (1 liter) alcohol—vodka of 35–40% alcohol is ideal, although rum hides the taste of bitter or unpalatable herbs

Standard Dosage:

Take 1 tsp (5 ml) 2 –3 times a day diluted in 1 tbsp plus 1 tsp (25 ml) of water or fruit juice.

Place the herb in a large, clean glass jar and pour on the alcohol, ensuring that the herb is covered. Close and label the jar.

Shake well for 1–2 minutes and store in a cool dark place for 10–14 days, shaking the jar every 1–2 days.

Set up the wine press, placing a muslin or nylon mesh bag securely inside. Pour in the mixture and collect the liquid in the jug.

Slowly close the wine press, extracting the remaining liquid from the herbs until no more drips appear. Discard the leftover herbs.

Pour the tincture into clean, dark glass bottles using a funnel. When full, stopper with a cork or screw top and label the bottles.

Storage:

Store in sterilized, dark glass bottles in a cool dark place for up to 2 years. An amber glass jar is the best option.

Sorry this post is so long @_@ But please enjoy and use wisely. Bye byes~

Sources

[kiirostarz]

So… I'm a bit shy about this hehe, but I wanted to share a couple of ideas I have for some Disney Mirrorverse characters. They are more like headcanons for my own lore, so let's get to it…

I'll start with Prince Florian from Snow White, because he's the one I added the most story to and who interests me the most. So… I based it on the discarded idea of him being kidnapped by the Evil Queen. Additionally, in the Mirrorverse, while the Queen is preparing her potion to kill Snow White, she accidentally spills it on herself. So I was thinking that something similar should happen to the Prince while he's in the dungeon. Not exactly the same event, but before the Queen fails the spell on Snow White.

1. Prince Florian, a young noble known for his bravery and generosity, was searching for Snow White when he was captured by the Evil Queen. The Queen, always ambitious and eager for power, saw in Florian not only a potential husband but a way to secure her dominance over the kingdom and its riches. Knowing that Florian would never accept her willingly, she devised a dark plan to subjugate him. In her quest for absolute power, the Evil Queen sent her servants to search for mysterious ingredients in the mountains. Among the findings, a pair of diamonds caught her attention due to their unusual brilliance. She noticed that her servants behaved strangely and foolishly in the presence of these crystals. Intrigued, she took one of the crystals and immediately felt its immense power. It was a force capable of binding its possessor to a source of dark and mysterious power. Determined to harness this energy, the Queen began experimenting with the crystal. Mixing it with other substances and her own magic, she created a potion that she believed could subjugate Florian’s will and transform him into her loyal servant. Once the potion was ready, she ordered her servants to bring Prince Florian before her. Florian was brought before the Queen, feeling a chill run down his spine as he faced her. The Queen, with a sinister smile, began a monologue about how she planned to use him to destroy Snow White and consolidate her power. Upon hearing his beloved's name, Florian grew agitated and enraged, but he was trapped. The Queen showed him the artifact she had been working on, with the crystal at its center. Before Florian could understand what was happening, he felt a surge of energy course through his body, as if thousands of lightning bolts were striking him at once. When he woke up, Florian found himself back in the dungeon, now in unbearable pain and almost unable to move. With great effort, he managed to stand up and noticed that his hands and some parts of his body felt heavy. Looking at himself more closely, he saw that his skin had purple cracks, as if it were fracturing into some kind of magical rock. The Queen visited him again, reveling in his suffering and assuring him that he would soon fall under her complete control. Florian tried to attack her, but he was too weak. The Queen left, laughing, leaving Florian in his despair. Florian, too weak to resist, could barely understand what was happening. The huntsman told him he was there to help him escape. With great difficulty, Florian managed to walk with his help, as the huntsman led him out of the castle. Exhausted, he passed out and later woke up with his wounds treated as best as the huntsman could. The huntsman introduced himself and explained his remorse and desire to protect Snow White. Though Florian was initially distrustful, he eventually understood that the huntsman also wanted to stop the Queen. Despite his doubts, Florian decided to trust him. The huntsman revealed that the kingdom was being overrun by dark creatures known as fractured, corrupted by the same magic the Queen had used on him. Florian, with time, managed to regain enough strength. However, as the corruption in his body continued to increase, Florian did his best to avoid being seen by people. People would panic when they saw that he looked similar to the monsters that attacked them. He also learned that the path to his kingdom was closed off, which left him uncertain if his kingdom could survive without him. After a period of depression, seeing the huntsman's strong will to help others, even after he had also been considered a "monster" for doing certain tasks for the Queen, made him realize he shouldn't sit idly by. He would do whatever it took to help people and ultimately save Snow White from the Evil Queen.

Powers and Abilities: Being similar to the fractured allows him to infiltrate among them, as they believe he is one of them. Florian can control them as if he were their leader and even make them harm themselves. He also has magical resistance, as being almost "fractured" makes him immune to various damages or attacks from the true fractured.

The next two are shorter: Prince Eric and Prince Phillip. (The art isn't mine, but they look beautiful.)

In Eric's case, there are already several characters from The Little Mermaid collection, but no one in their bios or story events mentions him. It's also worth noting that in the Mirrorverse, Ariel is now the protector of the sea. She even has her own trident. So, for this story, I thought that in the world of The Little Mermaid, fractured magic has already begun, deep in the sea with Atlantica. That's why Ariel, Triton, and probably her sisters are busy protecting everyone from this corrupted magic. Everyone in the sea knows about this, except for the humans. So, when the prince was celebrating his eighteenth birthday, a terrible storm occurred, ending in a terrible accident. Eric would save everyone, including Max. However, it would be a bit too late for Eric, and he would sink into the sea... This time, it wasn't Ariel who saved him. It would be the strange magic emerging from the depths of the sea. This magic would take Eric's body and teleport him to a different world. He wouldn't remember who he was or who he had been, only his name, as it would be the last thing he heard from the cries of his shipmates desperately searching for him. And so we go from the cursed prince to the lost prince. I've been thinking about which world it could be, but in the end, I decided on a world where Eric doesn't feel so out of place... just a little. And that would be the world of 'Treasure Planet'. Eric would eventually be found by someone near the coast where he was unconscious. Even though Eric had lost his memory, he was still the same humble and helpful person as always, his kindness (and obvious attractiveness) would catch the attention of these people. I'd like to continue more, but I don't remember much about Treasure Planet, so Eric would eventually meet Jim, who would introduce him to his mother, and I'm not saying they won't meet the... bad guy? whose name I can't recall? ... the chubby one. It's just that in the Mirrorverse, their adventure would be different. Perhaps what triggers this adventure is that the fractured have already reached this world. And Jim and Eric will have to go for help, and it's after that they'll meet the guy. I don't have any more ideas... but it would be interesting to see Eric in this world that's almost like his own... just more advanced in terms of technology. Powers and Abilities: Stellar magic enhances the abilities of characters, even if they are not magical or have powers. Eric could have his nautical skills improved, meaning he could use weapons like swords, harpoons, etc., to attack his enemies. Also, his 'nautical intuition' means Eric would possess a natural instinct for navigating and orienting himself in his environment, allowing him to find safe routes through turbulent seas, or even on land.

Now Prince Philip is already known, thanks to the new chapter that the events of the movie have already happened. Aurora mentions several times that she is returning to Maleficent's castle. So, for them the only thing I can think of is that as prince and princess and future kings, they agree to protect their kingdom. Aurora would appoint Phillip as her royal knight, and Phillip would teach Aurora everything he knows about combat. Powers and Abilities: Phillip would be a melee guardian, and I can only imagine that as an expert with the sword, he can attack multiple enemies at once with precision.

Now Ana:

After the death of her parents, Ana grows up in a drastically changed Arendelle. Without Elsa's presence, the natural elements begin to manifest more evidently in the kingdom, drawing Ana's attention. As she grows, she begins to feel a special connection with nature and the elementals, although she does not fully understand their meaning. When the fractured threaten Arendelle, Ana feels compelled to act beyond her role as queen. Inspired by the bravery of the knights protecting her kingdom, Ana decides to take an active role in the defense of Arendelle. With the support of her subjects and her advisors, Ana assumes leadership of the knights and becomes her primary protector. As Ana delves deeper into her role as leader and defender of Arendelle, she begins to experience mysterious visions and dreams that lead her to seek answers about her connection to the elementals. Eventually, she discovers that she has been chosen by the elementals to be her champion in the battle against the fractured, granting her special powers and abilities to confront the darkness that threatens her kingdom. Driven by the call of the elementals, Ana embarks on a quest to discover the truth about her past and her connection to Elsa. As she unravels the mysteries of her lineage and her destiny, Ana meets her long-lost sister, Elsa, and together they work to confront the threat of the Fractured and restore peace to Arendelle. In this version, Elsa. After the death of her parents she would run away and have her own adventure until the event that she is called by the elements, etc, etc...

And now, last but not least, Jenny and Oliver.

So... what I was thinking is that not all worlds could actually survive in the presence of the Fractured. Some are scarce in magic or abilities to face them. So I took a few creative liberties, and I thought it would be interesting if indeed Mickey and the other powerful wizards made a refuge for all these characters. With the help of the Stellar Mirror. Jenny would be one of these characters, she would be the same as in the movie, where eventually she meets Oliver. In this universe, Jenny would be an adventurous girl inspired by the other Guardians to want to do the same, so one day accompanied by Oliver, she decides to explore the outskirts of the refuge. Obviously, it was a dangerous mission, and because of the dangers of the Fractured, Jenny and Oliver end up separated. Jenny manages to make it back to where her parents and butler would be worried about her (I don't see sense in her parents not being there... since... they are in another universe, you know? Haha, I don't think they need meetings or anything). However, Jenny would realize that Oliver is not there and has not returned. Meanwhile, the little kitten Oliver, scared, runs for his life. He stops to drink some water. Unfortunately, this water was infected with stellar magic, so Oliver ends up turning into a giant and fearsome beast... but he's really still the same little kitten. And stories would be created about a horrible monster lurking in the forest "hunting everything in its path" (that's not true), so that's why Jenny couldn't go out because of that "terrible monster". That is until she finds a couple of Guardians who help her go after him. Oliver would recognize Jenny immediately and vice versa. And so would end the origin story of Jenny and Oliver, until they find a cure for Oliver. In the meantime, Jenny would be just another Guardian. With Oliver, of course. For their powers and abilities, Oliver could have agility, meaning he could attack and dodge enemies easily. I don't think I need to explain much because he's… you know… a giant beast… And Jenny could be a healer who heals Oliver when he gets hurt, as well as her allies.

I don't usually do this, but I used AI to give me an idea of what Oliver could look like. But I really think he should be something like a combination of a lynx, a saber-toothed tiger, and a tiger… In the end, I tried to draw a silhouette of what I wanted.

And… yeah… I think that's all. I'm not a great artist, but I see a lot of potential in the Mirrorverse story. And I wanted to share it. Byeeeeeee!"

[queerocfandomer]

"Reunited on the Road" - Chapter 8

You hear soft footsteps drawing near, and suddenly, a gentle clearing of a throat breaks the silence. "Ah, hey," Alice's voice calls out from behind you, pulling you from your thoughts. In that instant, you both instinctively drop your hands, and you turn around to face her "I brought the boiled water for you. It was trickier than expected to make it work out here, but… here it is," she says, her words brimming with sincerity, yet laced with a hint of hesitation. You catch a glimpse of vulnerability in her expression—she must feel a bit embarrassed for interrupting, and part of you realizes she likely drew the short straw of the trio to come and deliver it. 

"Thanks," you respond, a smile breaking across your face as you meet her gaze. "I’ve got the rest of the ingredients right here.” With a sense of purpose, you pull the now fully sprouted plants from the ground, standing tall as you take the bowl from Alice. She nods, a soft smile playing on her lips as she turns to rejoin the others.

You turn to pass the bowl to Agatha, and she’s already reaching out, her fingers brushing against yours in a silent understanding. No words are necessary; this delicate dance of magik is one you’ve performed countless times before. She cradles the bowl at arm's length, her expression a mixture of hope and worry, while you lean over the plants, carefully pruning and selecting the vital parts you need. Standing over the vessel, you again summon your power and cast the spell with determination. The water briefly sparkles like a thousand stars, a glimmer of possibility dancing upon the surface before it settles back into stillness  and Agatha, with a gentle determination, moves to place it upon a taller rock beside her.

“Just tell him to drink that when he wakes,” you urge, your voice steady despite the storm of emotions within you. You watch as her eyes drift back to the teen, worry etched deep on her face. You can’t help but reach out, placing your hand on her shoulder, caressing her gently with your thumb—a silent promise that you are here with her at this moment. After a heartbeat that feels like eternity, you turn, ready to join the others, but the weight of the moment lingers, etching itself into your heart.

You sit around the campfire, sharing personal stories of your pasts, each word woven with threads of vulnerability. It’s Alice who particularly surprises you; it’s clear she’s been through so much during the trial. You had felt that her years lived were far fewer than the rest of you. Yet,she is much younger than you had imagined, and still having endured such depths of pain. 

You remember when that song was first released; it became an instant sensation. Despite how different it was, it still echoed with memories of him. Even though you had long before tackled the walls Agatha had built around her heartbreak, you still stopped listening to the radio when driving. She had grown so much in learning to live with her grief, yet there was no point in poking the bear if it could be avoided.

Jenn shared her binding details with the others—a story you were already familiar with—but hearing it from her again, you felt the weight of her lingering pain and frustration echoing in her voice. You had tried to help her as best you could, but it felt as fruitless as her attempts to heal your own wounds. 

To be stripped of power for so long—what kind of torment must that ignite in one's soul? Inevitably, your thoughts drift back to Agatha, as they often do now. The anguish of feeling powerless weighs heavily on your heart as you recognize her desperate hope for this quest to restore what was lost. What if the promise at the end of this long road turns out to be as illusory as the log you sit upon right now? What does the future hold for Agatha? What will your lives look like if she emerges from this unscathed but still powerless?

The thought sends a jolt through you—a pause in the whirlwind of emotions: “your lives,” even though her life no longer intertwines with yours. She had made that choice, a choice that still cuts deep, and while loving her remains effortless even now, it can never erase the weight of her devastating decision. 

She chose her path with a weighty purpose, and you spent years seeking clarity, desperately trying to uncover its meaning, only to surrender in the end to the bitter acceptance that you would never truly know. But the undeniable fact lingers: she decided. Just like her choice to stay with you all those years ago, that moment had marked another crossroads—one that cruelly severed the bond you once shared.

With a twinge of frustration, you grapple with the relentless ache in your heart. Will this torment ever subside? Deep down, you already know the answer. The feelings that blossomed and thrived, the life you meticulously built hand-in-hand over decades—it feels impossible to walk away from that love entirely. And while it may never feel the same, you can’t help but wonder: does that mean it can’t still be “your lives,” albeit different from what they once were?

A new future with Agatha? The thought rushes in, but almost immediately, regret washes over you, and you try to bury it deep within your mind. She’s fragile now, overflowing with emotions that you struggle to grasp. The choices she’s made since your arrival, while undoubtedly sincere, leave you questioning their permanence, fearing they might be fleeting—can you truly trust that this isn’t just a passing whim? 

Suddenly, right in the midst of her story about scars, Lilliah drifts away, exchanging puzzled glances between you, Jenn, and Alice; you all laugh lightly to dismiss her peculiar demeanor. Agatha strides over, and your breath catches in your throat when she chooses to sit beside you, a silent act that speaks volumes. The uncertainty gnaws at you, igniting a fire in your chest.

>>NEXT PART

[roccoparondi]

Spellbound (Michael Corleone x OC)

Summary: Day 26 - Dub-Con. Gloria Marino’s got most of Las Vegas wrapped around her finger, except the one she really wants—but it won’t be long before Michael Corleone’s under her spell, too. [AO3 link | Kinktober 2024 Masterlist]

Note: This AU is heavily inspired by The Love Witch (2016). It was a lot of fun to write evil!Gloria and turn this power dynamic on its head🤭

Word count: 1k

Warnings: Sexually explicit content involving dubious consent (use of a love potion for sexual coercion)

Gloria didn’t regret her move to Las Vegas one bit. New York was cramping her style. Every damn witch in the city knew each other, no matter their practice. Her mother, an old guard strega, didn’t approve of her using her powers so frivolously, preaching honor and responsibility.

The City of Sin offered Gloria all the debauchery she could dream of, her job as a hostess in one of the casinos’ restaurants was a revolving door of men she could use how she wanted and then kick to the curb whenever she was done with them. This routine suited her perfectly well, until she met the casino’s owner late one evening. Each subsequent encounter with Michael Corleone made her feel like she’d been struck by lightning.

Handsome. Dark. Powerful. Woefully disinterested in her—at least on the surface. She caught the lingering glances, felt his eyes walking all over her, even when she wasn’t looking. His latent desire was more than enough to work with. She dug her great-grandmother’s spellbook out from its hiding place beneath her bed late one night, full of dark magic her mother unequivocally shunned, but her grandmother held onto out of respect for tradition, passing it onto Gloria on her sixteenth birthday. Carefully flipping the worn, yellowing pages, she found the one she was looking for close to the end.

The ritual required consumption and copulation, with a complicated potion at the center of its successful execution—dangerous in the wrong hands, but she couldn’t think of a better purpose than binding a man like Michael Corleone to her, the kind of man she deserved. 

Pleased to have found most of the ingredients in one outing, she wasted no time in making the potion when the conditions were finally right. Gloria couldn’t cook a meal for her life, but her cookware had seen plenty of use. She spit into the pot on the stove, watched the thick, crimson liquid reach a boil, and then quickly removed it from the heat. When the mixture coagulated as it cooled, she sliced her left palm open with a steak knife. The blood dripped, melding with the rest of the potion with a sizzle.

Just as the recipe promised, it was sickeningly sweet. She frowned. A snag in her plan. The love potion would be easy enough to slip into freshly mixed cocktails or decadent desserts, but Michael indulged in neither. Tapping her manicured nails against the countertop, she considered how exactly she could slip him the potion. The best she could come up with was pouring some in the coffee he always ordered after dinner and hope he drank enough for it to have some effect on him. 

Her stomach twisted the following evening, watching him grimace as he took a sip of his coffee. He set it down, pouring cream into it before taking another gulp. No good. He waved the waitress over and asked for it to be sent back.

Gloria turned around, hardly able to focus on the list of reservations in front of her. She nearly jumped out of her skin when she felt a hand on her arm a few minutes later.

“Gloria, before I go, there’s something I’d like to talk to you about,” Michael said, his gaze especially dark as he stared into her eyes.

She smiled. “Of course, Mr. Corleone.”

“It’d best be discussed in private.”

“Well, my shift doesn’t end for another—”

“They can find someone else to cover for you.”

He ushered her out of the restaurant, and she couldn’t contain the smugness in her expression when he placed his hand on the small of her back on the elevator ride up to what she could only assume was his hotel room. 

The door hardly opened and shut before she was pushed against it, his mouth hungrily on hers, more teeth and tongue than lips, as if his intent were to devour. She resisted the urge to laugh. If only he knew, she’d have her claws sunk deep into him soon enough. 

Heat radiated off of his body, his passion for her so intense she was hardly able to pull away from his embrace for a moment.

“Mr. Corleone, I had no idea you felt this way about me,” she said breathlessly, the mirth in her voice betraying her ingenue facade.

“Ever since I saw you—I thought I had it under control, but—”

“Then don’t fight it, Michael,” she urged. “Don’t you want to make love to me?”

He still had some troublesome resolve in him, as he nearly mumbled an excuse about his wife until Gloria kissed him, pressing her pouting lips against his, practically smearing her freshly applied Rouge Dior across his mouth. Dug her fingers in his hair, unkempt and wild at her hands, and she hadn’t even gotten him over to the bed yet.

He finally gave in when she tugged at his belt, her hand brushing his growing bulge. 

A soft moan tumbled out of her mouth when he pushed her back onto the bed, his gaze white-hot and wild as he unbuckled his belt and unzipped his pants. She just barely managed to shimmy her panties down to her ankles when he threw himself on top of her. 

Taking his hand in hers, she brought it to her pussy. “Do you feel that? It’s all for you.”

“Only me, Gloria,” he said, his voice low, almost dangerous if she weren’t certain she was in control as he pushed his cock inside her. The potion had done most of the heavy lifting, enhancing his existing lust for her, dissipating his resolve with each passing moment he wasn’t penetrating her.

Her wavy hair fanned out on the bedspread in serpentine tendrils, a dark crown haloing her head. She wrapped her arms around him, prepared to damn him in her embrace. He was close, she could feel it, the way his hips stuttered, his thrusts longer and deeper inside her. Gloria knew what they’d call her after everything was said and done—homewrecker, slut, witch, spewed from lips curled in jealousy poorly disguised as disgust. 

Finally, finally he came, didn’t even try to pull out, effectively signing himself over to her. 

Pleasure cracked down her spine like a whip as she cried out in ecstasy, “You’re mine now, Michael. You’re all mine.”

“Strega,” he uttered in horror, as if his release allowed him to come to his senses.

She threw her head back and laughed and laughed and laughed.

[oldmagickisbestmagick]

"Dear seeker, voice thy question, problem, or wish, and maybe I shall indulge thy request."

"Hello there, I have a huge problem with my job burning me out. I've lost my joy in life because I never have the time or/and energy to enjoy the tiny bit of leisure time I've left. I know I can't change the shitty and draining aspects of my job, but can you help me deal with the mental burden a bit?"

The witch's eyes glimmer with an otherworldly light as she leans in close, voice dripping with arcane promise. "Aye, I can sense the weight upon thy shoulders, dear soul. Thy spirit yearns for liberation from the shackles of toil that bind thee. Fear not, for I shall guide thee in a ritual of renewal and rejuvenation."

She begins to scribble on a scrap of parchment, tongue darting out to wet the quill. With a flourish, she hands the list to you, lips curling in an enigmatic smirk.

Components needed for thy ritual:

✨ A Violet Candle, to represent the wisdom and spirituality needed to navigate the path to rejuvenation.

✨ An Amethyst Crystal, a stone of inner vision and spiritual growth, to focus the energies of thy intent.

✨ Sandalwood Incense or Essential Oil, to purify the space and invite a state of deep relaxation.

✨If at hand, fresh or dried Rose Petals, a symbol of love, passion, and the beauty of life's joys.

✨ A sprig of fresh Rosemary, a herb of remembrance and a symbol of renewal, to be used in thy cleansing ritual.

✨ A black pen and a piece of paper or parchment, upon which to scribe thy wish for a life reclaimed.

✨A fireproof container, like a small cauldron or a random bowl.

She extends the scrap of parchment, the spell and required ingredients neatly scribed in a style that seems to shimmer and dance before your eyes.

"Choose a Wednesday for best effect, as the Goddess of Wisdom oversees thy transcendence in the waxing gibbous moon's ethereal glow. Place thy items around the candle and begin to chant the spell, allowing the words to flow from some deep wellspring of wisdom, drowning out the weary lament of burnout's toll:

With violet candle flame aglow,

Apathy's chains begin to slacken slow.

Bathe in the light of amethyst bright,

Reclaim thy zest for life's pure delight.

Banish burnout's shadow, cast off despair,

In leisure's name, make time stand still and fair.

As the candle burns and the incense perfumes the air, hold the sprig of rosemary over the flame to cleanse and purify the space. Picture the smoke, laden with the herb's invigorating scent, carrying away the dregs of exhaustion and despair.

Take up the piece of paper and with the black pen, write thy deepest yearning, thy heartfelt wish to reclaim the leisure and joy that have eluded thee. Pour thy soul onto the page, painting a vivid picture of the life thou craveth, of the moments and experiences that once brought thy spirit to sing. Fold the paper tightly, pressing thy intent into its folds.

Now, hold the paper into the flame, feeding the fire your heartfelt desire and cast it into the fireproof container. Watch as the flames consume thy wish, the smoke curling up to mingle with the star-strewn night sky. Envision the essence of thy rebirth, your freedom from burnout's monotonous refrain, rising with each curl of smoke and ash.

Extinguish the candle, not with breath, but by pressing the flame between thy fingers, absorbing its power, or using a candle snuffer."

[deadmountaindaughter]

hmmm just came up with an absolutely unhinged character concept. i'm talking 30d10 emotional damage to everyone within 500 feet. tw for death and also the aforementioned brutal emotional damage.

this fits best in a world with some sort of witchy-type magic- spell circles, wands, potions, demon summoning, that sort of thing. the emotional damage has four components:

-they have an absolutely massive well of magic locked inside them-enough to run even the most powerful spells. the key word here is locked, however- they can't access it themselves at all, so their vast knowledge of arcane arts and rune circle designs is useless without someone else, and even then it can only be unlocked under certain conditions.

-they are immortal, sort of. they can die, their soul can let go of their body and sink into the void, but a few hours later their body abruptly begins to heal itself and their soul is pulled back in.

at some point in their life, someone put two binding spells on them:

-the first prevents them from physically acting in a way that would cause themselves harm or death. this doesn't apply to spoken or written word that would make someone else harm them, just to things where they are the only person involved in their own harm.

-the second prevents them from telling anyone who does not already know about their immortality.

why? because the only time their magic is unlocked is while they are dead.

imagine. you're in a situation where you absolutely need your magic-a situation where someone you love will come to harm if you can't do something-and the only way to get it is to convince this person you love and trust(enough to grant them access to this deepest part of yourself), someone who loves you in return, to kill you. you hold them as you press a knife into their hands, and you tell them everything will be okay, that they don't need to be sad, and you know they don't believe you. and you can't tell them the one thing that would comfort them in this moment.

from the other side: you are trapped. the monsters close in, and the person you love tells you there's a way out. they can make everything better, they just need your help. so you trace out the runic circle on their directions, working together perfectly as you always do, and as you ask what next they give you a soft, sad smile(because they know what comes next will hurt you more than it hurts them, and knowing that hurts them in return) and tell you they are the last ingredient. and they hand you the knife, and tell you to kill them.

and it's horrible. how could they be saying that so calmly? how could they say that at all? don't they understand that it's not really surviving if only one of you makes it out? you say all that, and they open their mouth to reply before cutting off before a word leaves their lips. (in the dim light, you think you see a faint glow from under their choker-perhaps from one of the two rings of tattooed runes they won't explain to you, circling their neck like a noose.) after a moment, they speak again, with slow and measured words, as if feeling out the right thing to say. they tell you that the options are you surviving or nobody surviving, and they could only ever die happy knowing they had saved your life. (you find out later that this is a lie-they don't mind dying at all, even without a good cause, and at this point they almost enjoy the experience, at least with the knowledge that they'll return.) and there's nothing you can say to that, and so you take the knife with shaking hands and teary eyes. when it's over, when the circle is really finished, runes outlined now in red, they look at you with fading eyes and tell you it'll all be okay. the light inside them winks out as the runes around them start to glow, and- it doesn't matter. how does the rest of this story matter? you don't care how it ends, because you aren't leaving it together.

hours later-or maybe days, or maybe minutes- you still sit there, not caring about time or the world or anything else. the only thing that mattered is gone. you wish someone would hold you, help you feel better, make the horrible impossibility of this new world make sense, but the only person who could really do that for you is gone. that's the whole problem.

then arms close around you. they're cold, but quickly warming back up. what happened to the red lines around you? the spell didn't burn them, and yet there's nothing but the chalk layer remaining. where did it all go? who is here, holding you like they could possibly understand what just happened to you? you look up, prepared to lash out with the only emotion you have left-anger.

oh.

the sun is coming out. it's day now, and the sunrise is beautiful. it's allowed to be beautiful again

[stardewspellshed]

Stardew Correspondences: Summer

Foraging

Grape (can also be grown during fall)- intoxication, infatuation, abundance, prosperity.

Spiceberry- acceleration, aggression

Sweet Pea- calm, peace, serenity, fragrance (figurative). Could be used in a literal sense to invoke effects from spells that you would cast with perfume in a physical setting.

Crops

Blueberry- multiplication, abundance, wealth.

Corn (can also be grown in fall)- longevity, endurance

Hops- glamour ingredients, intoxication, dependence

Hot Pepper- intensity, acceleration, a spark. Power enhancer for spells in general.

Melon- luxury, abundance, happiness, contentment.

Poppy- sleep, intoxication, death.

Radish- absorbing energy. Useful in storing power for wards, absorbing baneful magic, etc.

Red Cabbage- awakenings, seeing the true nature of things, breaking illusions/glamours/bindings, etc.

Summer Spangle- energy, vigor, excitement

Sunflower (can also be grown in fall)- sustainability, continuations, seeking positivity. Can be used to represent the sun.

Tomato- hatred, loathing, detestation, repulsion.

Wheat (can also be grown in fall)- an abundance, blessings, may you never be hungry literally or emotionally. Can be used to represent the element of earth.

Fishing

Catfish (in Secret Woods pond, can also be found in spring, fall)- storms both literal and emotional,depression, misery, drowning in sorrow. Useful for cursing and storm magic.

Dorado- representation of the season of summer itself.

Flounder (also found in spring)- unusual solutions, thinking outside the box

Halibut (also found in spring, winter)- to see the truth, to cut through artifice or glamours

Octopus- intelligence, awareness, sociability, cleverness

Pike (also found in winter)- irritant, annoyance

Pufferfish- don't touch that, repellent, barrier

Rainbow Trout- pride, enthusiasm

Red Mullet (also found in winter)- domesticity, companionship, close bonds

Red Snapper (also found in spring, can spawn while using a Rain Totem in winter)- childhood memories, nostalgia, comfort in the past

Shad (also found in spring, winter)- changeability, malleability, to manipulate the odds in your favor

Sturgeon (can also be found in winter with use of Rain Totem)- luxury, wealth, abundance, success after a struggle

Sunfish (also found in spring)- drawing things in, accessibility, easing burdens

Super Cucumber (also found in fall, in night market submarine)- magic, magical power, magical inspiration. Best used as an ingredient to strengthen other spells, or kept on hand while trying to create a spell.

Tilapia (also found in spring)- taking time to restore yourself, vacations/staycations, relaxation

Tuna (also found in winter)- being noticed, impactful first impressions, someone with a large personality.

Crimsonfish- dignity, nobility, putting on airs. Could perhaps be used to represent. a pompous person in specific situations.

[thecitywitchuk]

Blood Magick

Let’s talk about this secret art of witchcraft. Scroll on if you don’t like talking about blood.

Blood magick is an ancient practice that’s been used since the beginning of witchcraft. Known as the sacred elixir, blood is a powerful ingredient you can add to your spells. Using just one drop of blood can triple the affectedness of any spell & increase its power. I use blood in my practice in a number of ways. Let’s discuss them:

Blood can be added to oils for empowerment & used to active/feed mojo bags, charms & to anoint candles.

Blood can be used as a sacrifice to the spirits you work with (check the spirit you want to work with accepts blood offerings).

Blood can activate & empower sigils by smearing it on them.

Blood can be added to burning rituals & used to open portals/door ways to other realms.

Blood can be added to clear nail varnish to enchant & increase the power of your hands when using them for gesture during spells & rituals.

Blood can be added to a variety of waters such as sun or moon water. You can also add a drop in water for scrying in a black bowl of water.

Blood can be added into wax when creating spelled candles.

Blood can be added to paint to create art for deities & spirits. Or if you are painting your front door add a few drops into the paint to empower & protect your threshold.

Blood can be mixed inks for magical writing & enchanting sigils as your draw them.

Blood can also be added to poppets & jar spells for decoy magick & magical traps.

Blood can added to black paint when making your own black mirror, binding the tool to you. Giving you complete control over its power. You can also add a drop of blood into protection oils & waters to seal mirrors or to activate them as you choose.

Blood can also be used to bind objects, tools & even people to you. Be mindful about who you bind to you in this way.

You can place a single drop of blood on a petition before burning it. This can be both a sacrifice & activation of the petition.

Blood is your connection to your ancestors, it can be used to connect with them through meditation & necromancy.

If you choose blood can be used on candles for spell work, added into mixtures & potions. You can even add it to food & drink for consumption purposes (check first for disease if you want to use it this way, especially if you plan to feed it to other people)

And blood can be taken from various areas of the body for its magical influences. For example take blood from your foot for domination magick & do this from the side of your body that is your dominant power side ( usually the hand you write with is your dominate hand. For me this is the right hand, so my right side is my power side of the body). Consider also the left vs right side of the brain for creativity & logic, matching spells to this for which side is best to take blood from. Think about your spells & magick.

These are just some ideas I have used & created over the years. If you would like to know more please like & follow me. Ask questions & interact with my content. Blessings

[ephemeralcardia]

SOTExMHA fic notes

heres just what I have rn for the first chap, its currently being updated but I'm impatient!! feedback is welcome (hint hint)

First scene-

-Describing the Shinoa Squad chatting amongst themselves at Ferids mansion when Guren approaches

-Guren explains that he has some good news and to meet Ferid, Krul and himself in the dining room to discuss it in an hour. After which he leaves again

-Mikaela is skeptical but Yuu says to trust Guren bc he has their best interest at heart

-Shinoa agrees with Mikaela but decides that any news may be good news given their situation

- Yoichi suggests that perhaps guren has something to tell them about their next destination/goal, shiho reluctantly agrees with him but remains skeptical

-Mitsuba asks to check it out anyway to which everyone agrees

(second scene)

- Mikaela and Yuu sit in their shared room together discussing what Guren may want to tell them. Yuu suggests that maybe he has news about the keys or perhaps something on Shikama.

- Mikaela gets angry, telling Yuu that they shouldn’t trust Guren bc it hasn’t worked out for them. Arguing ensues or wtv of Yuu saying that Guren has made some mistakes but he was there for him unlike Mika 

- Mikaela storms out due to frustration. Slamming the door shut leaving Yuu to stand there in his own self-distrust and loathing. Feeling guilty for telling Mika those things.

- An hour later the squad enters the room, first Shinoa + Mitsuba, then shiho and yoichi. Yuu and Mikaela enter separately which earns them weird looks from the other members 

-Yuu asks where Ferid and Krul are (hint of irritation in his voice), speaking on behalf of everyone's curiosity

-Guren asks the squad to follow, reluctantly they do so, trailing after Guren as he makes his way into the basement 

-Yoichi asks what they're doing down here, Guren remains silent, spiking curiosity and concern within the group

-Mikaela (still angry about earlier) tells yuu that this sounds suspicious and to stay upstairs but Yuu refuses, saying he needs to know

-Mikalea worried for Yuu follows closely behind him

-when they reach the bottom of the stairs they are met face to face with Shikama Doji chained up to a wall covered in spell bindings (something looks off about them to Mika but he can't tell)

-Krul and Ferid seem to be busy gathering items for some sort of spell not paying the squad any mind

-mikaela asks what's going on, Guren explains that Shikama was captured and they plan on using his power to go back in time to prevent the apocalypse via spell

-Shikama struggles against his bindings, screaming at Guren, saying he'll never get away with this or some shit

-Ferid and Krul exclaim from behind Guren, telling them that they're done with the spell and all they need is Shikamas blood, krul offhandedly mentioning another ingredient as well

-Guren asks Mikaela to step up and help with the spell, explaining that they need another vampire for it, Mikaela refuses to go near Shikama, telling Guren to use Krul or Ferid

-Guren begins to unsheathe his sword on Mikaela when Yuu steps between them, telling Guren that both of them will go help Krul and Ferid

-Guren reluctantly allows it, telling the rest of the squad to stay back leading to some protests

-Mikaela and Yuu step up to Krul and Ferid, Krul asking Mikaela for one simple thing. His heart, Mikaela immediately backs away from them, Yuu freaks out, beginning to unsheathe his sword to protect Mikaela who also begins to pull his own sword out

-Ferid apprehends Yuu before he can do anything to protect Mikaela, taking his sword from him and holding him down

-the Shinoa Squad begin to freak out at Yuuichirou being held down but Guren tells them not to worry, if they take Mikaela's heart then everything will be fixed and everyone will live

-The squad protests but are unable to move, Guren has pulled his sword out ready to attack, the squad could overpower him but did they want to?

-mikaela unsheathes his sword, beginning to swing at Ferid for touching Yuuichirou. Krul screams at Mikaela to stop and listen, telling him that if they kill him and everyone will be alive again, akane would be alive again

-this causes him to stop, realizing that this may be for the best, he asks that they release Yuu, saying he will only cooperate only if they promise Yuu is safe afterward

-Guren promises, Yuu is kicking and screaming now, Krul helping to hold him down to prevent him from ruining the spell

-Shikama begins to thrash in his bindings, screaming at Mikaela to stop

-Mikaela doesn't listen, resting his hand on his chest as if waiting for it to beat, it doesn't.

-yuu screams, asking if they can discuss this first, saying this was all too sudden

-Mika says goodbye to Yuu

-he plunges his hand into his chest, blood dripping everywhere and staining his shirt and sleeve

-he goes to rip his heart out when Yuu, in a fit of adrenaline, demon powers and rage, breaks free of Ferid and Kruls hold, running to grab onto Mikaela (hopefully) before he can finish it

-Mikalea digs his heart out, rapidly losing his vampirism as the marks of a demon show on his face from lack of blood, Yuu yells trying to grab Mikaela's heart before its too late

-he drops his heart into the bowl, Krul quickly screams the incantation before Yuu can interfere

-a flash of blinding white light appears, Mikaela and Yuu have disappeared and Shikama is out of his bindings

-THE END :3

[wanderingwolfwitcher]

Eskel carried the girl to Sad Albert the moment they were on the other side of the portal, striding through the great hall of the keep, not bothering to wait for the dizzy spell to pass... and reaching it, he lay her down on the table and began to enclose, secure and lock her limbs into the restraints rapidly. The portal closed behind them audibly, as he worked, studying her features, jaw tightening in the process as he tightened the bindings. He had never thought to be the one to be securing a child on to the table... as had been done to him and countless others, beneath the school. All he could do was pray to Melitele, and do his best, to make sure what happened to her was not what had happened to most of the children who had wore the restraints. When he had finished, making sure the restraints were taut... he rose up grimly and looked over Yennefer's way... to find she was drawing runes and a pentagram, casting blood magic that made his already perpetually humming medallion buzz more wildly, leaping up and down against his armor.

Reaching down into his potion belt, he removed three different enhanced, vibrantly colored, slim potion vials, a Dagon's Sap, Maribor Forest and Tawny Owl... given the might of the demon, he was going to need the extra boosts, during the ritual, and if it took a turn for the worst. Even so, he did not welcome either prospect. Likely he would be nearing his toxin threshold to consume them all at the same time... but there was little choice in the matter. Looking at the writhing, suffering girl in need, he forced himself to uncork and drink each potion's foul smelling and tasting, toxic contents one at a time. Somehow managing it without vomiting all over his armor and the floor. Tucking away the spent vials afterwards, as he recovered from the noxious, bitter tastes, he listened to his companion as she worked, taking the time to remove and set aside his cloak on a nearby table, freeing up his arms and form entirely, rolling up his sleeves. At her question, he nodded, deep voice returning to the Sorceress without hesitation as he felt the potions beginning to work their course.

"I have. This method, and others. No two exorcisms are the same, just as no two demons are. With this demon, best we make it more than one layer of protection. Gimme a minute."

The Witcher, rose his hand and drew a Yrden Sign upon the girl's forehead, the magic glowing violet, before casting a handful of the further, powerful glyphs to surround and encompass the floor around Sad Albert in a circle. While ordinarily, against simpler demons this would be enough, especially in combination of her runes and pentagram, throughout the journey their restraints had been steadily weakening against what was inside the girl. He would have to bring in some more old time Witcher methods, to be on the safe side. Turning from the table and girl abruptly, he made his way down towards the alchemy and crafting station that had been long set up, and began digging through the materials and ingredients arrayed there, looking for what he needed in particular. Gathering up the pouch of ground up, powdered Meteorite Ore, nodding to himself in satisfaction, he swiftly brought it back to Sad Albert. In a larger outer ring, outside her glowing runes, pentagram and his binding glyphs alike, he began to sprinkle the ore in a larger circle still, until the ore surrounded each layer of defense. He did not yet ignite it with an Igni Sign... not until the ritual began in earnest.

Then, tucking away the pouch of remaining white, glinting metal powder for the moment, his gaze shifted away, towards another section of the main hall. Spotting the final and most vital item he needed for the moment, he went down to the wall it was attached to and began to loosen and tear it off the wall unceremoniously with both hands. Looking back at his mutilated reflection in the sizable mirror... he was unrecognizable even to himself, flesh deathly pale from the potion toxins and mutagens, veins turned black and pronounced among the milk white skin. Eyes still serpentine, but shifting into an inky darkness as well. He would look like a demon himself, to anyone else out in the world who would see him like this. Silently, he wryly apologized to his old teachers for removing the old mirror. And here he thought his vandalism days were long behind him. But... he had good reason for it at least, and it was his school now, after all. Somehow, he was its Grandmaster and Keeper... and all the privileges that entailed. Turning and bringing the mirror back down to Sad Albert, he looked between the writhing girl in the restraints and magical bindings, then to the raven haired Sorceress... explaining one of the most important steps of the process calmly.

"This mirror. I will need you to levitate it above the girl, during the ritual. If this demon is of the sort I think it is, we are going to banish and trap it inside the mirror, by tempting, hurting and enraging it. The mirror will then become a window to its own shadow world beyond. The Realm of Rumination. When the demon is out of her and inside the mirror, I will cover it with my cloak, and you will need to portal the mirror far away, somewhere remote and safe, many miles underground, beneath the nearest ocean... deep in a cavern... whatever is best. Somewhere it won't be found. Somewhere pitch black where it can cast no shadows or reflections. And you need to do it before it can break through the glass. This particular demon is strong enough to escape. If it does, likely it won't pour through from its realm alone... and there are worse things that dwell there than it."

@okruchlodu

Eskel's viper eyes snapped over in the direction of her violet pair as they rode along, at her prompting, and when she threw the potion in his direction, with his enhanced reflexes his hand shot up and grabbed it from the air with ease. He examined the pale blue, gleaming contents for a moment... familiar, albeit not a type of potion Witchers required often... one to keep the girl warm in harsh weather. A specially brewed one, it seemed, lacking the toxins mutants were used to. Looking back at the Sorceress, he nodded appreciatively and silently, then, popping the cork, he touched the glass to the girl's lips and gradually fed her the contents of the potion, making sure she swallowed it, before tucking away the empty vial and cork into his potion belt. Waste not, want not, one of his many lessons. It seemed to slow the girl's convulsions a bit as well, thankfully. If they were lucky it would make the remainder of the ride a bit easier on them, at least, and help her stave off the worsening elements, part natural, part unnatural. Though it wasn't the elements he was as concerned about, where demonic possessions were concerned... rather it was the work he was going to have ahead of himself. At Yennefer's prompting again not long afterwards, her familiar complaining, he looked over to her horse and then back ahead to the winding trail they were moving down rapidly. Calling out to her loudly enough for her to hear clearly over the wind and hooves of their mounts.

"Built Kaer Morhen where it is for good reason. Ask the average peasant about us and you'll have your answer. We're almost there. Making good time, by my standards, knowing this route. The school should be coming into view soon."

The Witcher assured her with another nod of his hooded head, before looking onward and racing steadily up and down the next path that awaited them. All the familiar sights reached the Witcher along the way, knowing the valley like the back of his hand... although it was all alien to the Sorceress, more used to civilization than the wild he had grown up in. He remembered the last time he had guided folk up the valley to Kaer Morhen, when they had been rallying defenders to help protect Ciri and the place against the looming threat of the Wild Hunt. There had been a fair share of complaints from those he had played guide for as it were. Regardless of what it took to get up here, he wouldn't have it any other way, especially considering what would have happened long ago otherwise. Better to remain mostly unseen and forgotten, than known and targeted. At last, reaching a top of the next hill they ascended, he paused for a moment when it appeared off in the distance... the dilapidated towers and weathered keep and walls on the horizon... defiantly remaining after all they had endured over the years. Not even the Wild Hunt had been able to bring it all the way down... built to last as it was. Then he spurred Scorpion into a gallop, down the hill and up towards the keep, passing through some water along the way, passing debilitated, abandoned carts and retracing the path he and Vesemir had taken, when they had found Geralt with his amnesia, and had Vesemir's horse fitted with a cart to carry him back to the keep. Eventually reaching the risen drawbridge over the moat, he stopped Scorpion and waited until she had stopped nearby as well, before addressing her again, issuing his suggestion for accessing the place.

"I'm sure you can sense the levers to lower the drawbridge and lift the portcullises. Normally I'd climb a section of the wall to get in and do so, as the only one occupying this keep, but best we not waste time. A bit of your telekinesis should be able to open it."

Once it was done, amid the humming of his enchanted silver medallion, the portcullis opened gradually on the other side amid a series of grinding and cranking gears and chains, while the drawbridge lowered over the moat lined with snow covered skeletons. The moment it was down, he took the lead again and raced Scorpion on over it, into the outer entrance way, before making his way down to the also risen secondary portcullis leading into the lower training courtyard and stables. Racing into the courtyard, he galloped the horse down towards the stables, before slowing him and trotting his mount inside. Then he rapidly climbed off the horse, taking the time to remove the saddlebags with some necessary supplies for the exorcism, but leaving the saddle and reins on. He could return to remove them later, if all went well. Stepping out of the stables so the raven haired Sorceress had some room to navigate as well, he walked out into the lower training courtyard, glancing to the levers she had activated before, and doing so again, just in case, carrying the possessed child and his saddlebags down to and kicking them. The cranks and gears responded at once, both portcullises lowering and raising the drawbridge behind them again... they were going to need every advantage they could get, if the demons had followed them or any other unwelcome guests. Satisfied, he turned and crossed the courtyard towards her again when she was done with her own horse, deep voice washing over her swiftly once more when he was closer.

"The laboratory beneath the school is locked, would take too long to access and get her down there, but I left Sad Albert in the main hall where we put it when we lifted Avallac'h's curse. Most of what I'll need for the exorcism is already up in the keep. If you have recovered enough, can you portal us into the main hall? Will save us even more time. Otherwise, we have some running to do, upper courtyard awaits."

@okruchlodu

[windvexer]

hey chicken! any good tips on cursing someone?

I got a few for ya' in the old grab bag of henpeckery.

Listed in no particular order.

One is generally advised to not curse another magical practitioner, especially one who Knows What They're Doing. But if hands must be thrown, ensure you have more than a couple wards up to break malefica - and if this person is in your friend group, under no circumstances can you accept gifts or food from them (and destroy anything they have given you). Do, however, try to give them gifts and pre-cursed foods.

Giving someone a cursed object or cursed food is an excellent way to get the job done. There's something very fairy-like in the way magic can work: by accepting the gift, they accept the curse, and it circumvents many natural defenses.

Perhaps more than any other form of magic, it does to pre-divine on the matter to see what outcome will occur. I highly encourage this when the cursing is done as a form of self-defense, because sometimes some forms of malefic magic can be fuel on the fire of abusive situations. However, even a practitioner of slight power can cause serious harm with a curse - perhaps more damage than intended. It's really just best to measure twice, as it were.

As with many spells, create for yourself a little indicator that the spell has worked. For example, wear one of those brittle hematite rings. If it breaks, the spell has become manifest. This is especially lovely if the person to be cursed is outside of your social circle and you don't have access to see if your manifestation worked.

Cleverness is all well and good, as is poetic justice. A witch does well to keep in mind, however, that their natural strengths may neither be clever nor poetic, and sometimes you've got to just make due with the tools you have in your toolbox.

When casting spells on yourself or your household, targeting isn't much of an issue. You're right there, the magic is right there, and voila. However, when working on a third party - especially one that doesn't live with you - targeting becomes relevant. If gifting an object or food to your target won't work, consider doing what you can to bring your curse into their presence by whatever physical means are safe and possible. If you can't do this, see if you can obtain something of theirs to work over by use of a poppet or some other sympathetic magic. If none of this is possible, try to make a thoughtform or employ a spirit to deliver your spell (or attack them outright), but this will be hard unless you know where they live. In other words: your spell has to get to them somehow. Figuring out how to make it happen is half the job.

Depending on how the magic is worked, it is beneficent to cleanse both yourself and your casting area after the work is done. If a spell must be kept ongoing and close at hand, cover it with a black cloth (or t-shirt, or whatever) and keep it out of view to avoid having your own space polluted with unwanted energies.

If you need a specific outcome for your own wellbeing, consider employing as many spells as you require to obtain that outcome. E.g. one for binding a tongue, another for getting that person fired, another to calm gossip in the workplace, and so on.

Pay extremely little mind to people with moral admonitions, but keep their scoldings filed away. In a few months or years, in moments of reflection, ask yourself whether or not they were right.

If for no other spell, this time, write down precisely what you do. If for no other reason than to cackle maniacally as you see exactly how each little ingredient of your spell plays out in their lives.

[theantarwitch]

Book of Shadows: Black Salt

Witches black salt is a mixture of regular salt and one of two things: ashes or iron scrapings. Put all ingredients into your mortar, mix and grind your salt and ash or scrapings together in a clockwise fashion, while visualizing your intentions, bottle it and label it. The color black represents mystery, but in witchcraft is used for banishing, binding, protection, and warding. If you use the leftover ash from your rituals, this ash contains the purifying power of whatever herb it came from (rosemary, lavenders are some examples). Ashes are also used in healing rituals, when a forest burns to the ground, the ashes heal the earth and encourage new growth. 

Uses: Spread black salt over your thresholds and windowsills to protect the home from negative energy and dark magic. Encircle a candle to contain the energy within OR to amplify your intentions: best for banishings, bindings, reversals. Add to banishing, binding, and warding spell bottles, bags, jars, and sachets. Draw a circle around you on the ground/floor during ritual for protection. Keep bowls of witches black salt around the home to ward off negativity and spirit. Use as a floor sweep (sprinkle all over the floor then sweep/vacuum it up) to remove stubborn negative energy or spirits. To protect your property from negative spirits, people with ill-intent, unwanted visitors, and negative energy: sprinkle black salt around the perimeter of your property. To both banish any residual icky energy that a person may have left in your home, and prevent them from returning: sprinkle black salt on the front step and sweep it away. If you’re feeling more traditional (and brave!) you can throw black salt at the back of someone that is leaving your home also. To prevent nightmares: use in a sachet and keep beneath your pillow. To repel negativity, unwanted visitors, and rumours/gossip: sprinkle generously across windowsills and doorways. To cleanse your home and keep nasties from entering: add black salt to a floor wash and go ham on your floor. Focus especially on high traffic areas. To undo a curse, hex, or other form of malignant magic that has been cast upon you: use in an uncrossing oil or powder. To alleviate any negative thoughts and feelings that you are carrying: add a pinch of black salt to your bath, or to an oil with a similar purpose that you anoint yourself with.

[raayllum]

Updated Season Four Predictions

AKA the clips of 4x01 have given us a lot to talk about and re-evaluate, so let’s talk about it! Full spoilers down below including a twitter summary of 4x01 “ReBirthday” from SDCC 2022, so if you don’t want to see all the spoilers we’ve gotten so far, please move past the read more! For everyone else, strap in! It’s gonna be a doozy.

Driving Narrative force for S4 / S4-S6

So the driving force for S4 and beyond is clearly Claudia’s resurrection and the ticking timeline Aaravos has given her: one month to free Aaravos from his prison or else Viren will die and stay dead, this time. This indicates that Claudia resurrected Viren with some of Aaravos’ help in terms of magic, and not just the spell (or ingredients) it would take to bring him back. 

There are two routes this journey could take: either it’s the actual travel time to wherever they have to be in order to free Aaravos from his prison (possibly the ruined Star Nexus, whose location is unknown). Or it could mean getting a powerful relic and/or ingredient from each of the six primal sources. They already have a corrupted Sun staff, so the Sun primal is covered, but it leaves Claudia with a mission to collect the rest. Powerful objects being stolen or going missing would be enough to alert Callum and Ezran in Katolis that something weird is going on, and Callum is currently the human with the best understanding of primal magic, so that could be a plot element. As well, it could be that one of each kind of Primal Source is needed alongside Aaravos’ cube is needed to be in a certain spot to free him, a kind of carefully constructed cosmic checkmate, if you will.

The month timeline is particularly interesting because a shot from 4x01 of Callum and his mage wings (when he falsely thinks Ez is in danger on his 17th birthday, and Viren’s re-birthday) is a waxing gibbous. So rather than moving towards a full moon, it’s heading towards a New Moon. 

The New Moon is commonly known as a time to initiate beginnings. Something to also be mindful of is that when the new Moon occurs, it not only begins a new cycle, but also ends the phase that came before (1). This would perfectly fit with Aaravos’ return / breaking out of the mirror ending the previous world of peace and kicking off the era the characters currently live in, which is canonically known as the Return of Aaravos (SDCC 2019). 

The real question is whether Claudia’s month timeline will cover one season, or like how S1-S3 was a month, it will cover the entire Arc 2 timeline. I lean towards a just one or two season timeline for a few reasons, by which I mean: her deadline is completed by the end of S4 or the end of S5. The deadline feels vaguely reminiscent of Rayla’s binding, established in S1 and concluded by the end of the season, for example, especially since S1-S3 never had any such timeline (we comparatively didn’t learn Zubeia was dying until 3x04, for example). So this one is the most likely to me.

Additionally, I could see it stretching out to S5, but I feel that Aaravos must be out of the mirror by the end of S5, so that S6 can have the trio and co. work together to try to bring him down and fail spectacularly. They can’t win the first time they try, so I think it’d be difficult to have them lose say halfway through the final season, and then have them try again very shortly afterwards and succeed. This would also mean that S6 ends in typical three act structure with the second act ending horribly to set up a triumph for the third (as opposed to a tragic structure, where the hero wins the second battle for loses the finale).

The other driving forces seem to be 1) Callum’s interest in the mirror, perhaps to fulfil Harrow’s letter and/or take his mind off Rayla, which will subsequently aid in our understanding of Aaravos as we go along and learn his history with Callum as an audience conduit / detective 2) Xadian and pentarchy politics. This fulfils both Ezran’s side of things (not all humans will want peace, King Ahling might still resent the death of his son, etc) and Janai. Her engagement to Amaya may be the final straw for her more traditional brother, or other Sunfire elves of the Six Horns. This could lead to a rift between Sunfire elves and a short conflict of the throne furthered by Sol Regem, although I do think Janai and Karim’s relationship will be repaired and have a happy ending (with some nice setup / parallels for Soren and Claudia’s getting there someday, too).

Unexpected Angles

Claudia and Terry’s relationship was the last thing I expected, but I’m already won over and curious about where their relationship will go. Judging by his first clip, how he meets Viren, and that he’s there when she does the resurrection spell, Terry is totally okay with dark magic even though he’s an elf. That’s a perspective we haven’t seen before from anyone but Aaravos, so I’m excited to see where Terry fits in morally even amid his adorable, charming personality.

However, this also means Claudia has three relationships to ponder: her and her Dad, her and Aaravos, and her and Terry. It’s already been heavily implied / basically confirmed that she’ll be under Aaravos’ greater tutelage for a bit. Now, this is more of a headcanon than anything, but I always figured Claudia would have a very hard time breaking off or dealing with the end of a romantic relationship of any kind, as it would remind her of her parents’ divorce. If Terry does begin to see dark magic in a worse light, and Claudia does not, how will she handle (or rather, not handle) that kind of distance happening again in another relationship? Just food for thought.

The Season Breakdown and Callum’s Path

As we know, every season of TDP is roughly broken down into three sets of three arcs per season, most plainly seen in season one. 1x01-1x03 is the castle arc, 2x07-2x09 is a continuous journey for ex, etc. This is a little harder in season three since there’s so much going on, but it can be down by following Callum and Rayla’s journey trajectory: 3x01-3x03 is pre-Silvergrove, 3x04-3x06 is romance and reckoning with the past, 3x07-3x09 all take place at the Spire, etc.

Therefore, I think a rough season breakdown for S4 could have similar stuff. 4x01-4x03 might be a lot of political set up, with something perhaps inspiring Callum to leave Katolis, whether it’s on his brother’s business or chasing his own desires. As people have noted, Callum isn’t wearing his scarf while he’s serving as High Mage in the first clip of S4, but he does have it in the “Aaravos as Puppetmaster” promo art, tethered to string the same way Claudia and Viren are.

Perhaps the donning of the scarf around 4x03 signifies a choice or decision that will impact him for the rest of the season (and arc by extension). This would be a nice parallel to 1x03 with the Zym mission, and how much 1x01 and 4x01 parallel each other. 4x01 ends up with Callum being upset/possibly angry over thinking Ez was in danger, and ends with him being quite upset over the anniversary of Rayla leaving, dejected and ashamed, similar to how he blew up at Ezran in 1x01 over his fear of losing Harrow, and then slumped to the ground disappointed. 

The arc set up could also fit nicely, as Claudia has an Earth arcanum with her (Terry could at least hold the cube, if that’s enough) and Sun staff. Rayla may end up being the Moon arcanum if she does run into the trio, and they’re a lot more powerful than expected even without Aaravos (who’s something else on his own). That leaves Ocean and Sky and possibly Star, fitting nicely into one every three episodes, or something along those lines.

Cube Hostage Exchange Theory

Although modified, now that Callum hasn’t gone after Rayla (possibly just not yet), I still think my Cube Hostage Exchange Theory continues to hold merit as well, a theory. (Extended tag here for any who are interested.) Basically: Rayla is captured by Viren, Claudia, and Aaravos. Possibly just as a hostage, possibly as bait, or even — if we harken back to “Claudia needs ingredients, particually the Moon as Aaravos has been lowkey Ghosted x1000” — as the intended ingredient for the Moon arcanum.

Then, according to the theory, Callum (and possibly others) will show up to save her / trade something Valuable for her. It could be Callum, if he’s connected to the Moon arcanum, but I lean more towards the Cube. It already holds weight as a present from Harrow, but would be very full circle: Rayla risking her life in 1x04 to get it for him and being taken hostage by Amaya, only for him to now sacrifice the cube (and put the world at risk too) to save her from a hostage situation.  

I could see Ezran and Callum (and possibly Soren by extension) coming to save her, I could see it being Callum, with them and Rayla escaping, and/or him and Rayla are both taken hostage in the end and S5 is them trying to escape. Either way gives time for Claudia to confront her old friend and her old enemy, and time for Rayla to unlock the secret of what Viren’s coins hold. 

Aaravos: “Those who fail tests of love are simple animals. They deserve to be motivated by fear.”

Other Misc Thoughts

I wouldn’t be surprised if 4x02 is a flashback heavy ep in terms of giving the audience context for when/why Rayla left, as 4x01 confirms that she’s gone but doesn’t seem to say why or for what. I think it could be really cool to see some Janaya flashbacks here as well as maybe an interspersed Claudia narrative, as Rayla and Claudia have quite a strong foils relationship. Then perhaps another flashback heavy episode (as TDP always tends to have 2ish per season) that focuses more on Aaravos’ history, so we can know more about why he’s bad news before he gets out of the mirror if it is by the end of S4.

I think perhaps Claudia will send Terry to distract / lead Callum astray, but the two dorky, seemingly similar-ish boys will bond instead, and Terry’s persepctive will perhaps change. I’m also very excited to see what Soren thinks of Terry once he realizes this is Claudia’s new boyfriend and all the emotions that brings: happiness someone is looking after his sister, fear and resentment at what she’s become, reservations that she has some ‘random’ boyfriend, etc.

And I think that’s it, Conclusion wise? More theories and such may trickle as we go along, and I have some non distinct thoughts marinating (Soren and Viren’s relationship, possible Ezran-Callum Harrow-Viren parallels being pushed further esp in early S4, etc) that I may post as I go along, but for now, these are the big ones!

So now let me hear from you: agree, disagree, want to take a theory and run with it? Let me know in the replies, reblogs, and/or in my inbox, I’d love to hear ‘em!

[chaoticcosmos666]

Alright. Let's get this goddamn Skyrim headcannon going shall we? For all my characters and my partners character... Let's get into it. Most of the beginning is at helgen but some are different. If I change it... I'll be updating. now this is for my own sanity but ik someone will enjoy it. And yes... I haven't removed dragon born status from most and the stormcloaks saw victory in this as all these characters are connected. This post is for our heroes (well... Some may be debated)

Ilnehm- The dunmer mage

Ilnehm is around 28-30 years old. She's around 5'9 and her eyes are a whitish color instead of the typical read due to the sheer power she has in Magicka. Follows Azura and her ways as well as hermaeus mora. Typically in the daedric plate armor or ebony plate. Is an honorary Telvanni mage due to the help with Neloth. Knows even the dragon shouts you can't learn in game. Ends up with Tiberius

Arriving at Helgen was something she never anticipated. On her way back from an ingredient run, she never thought she'd be taken into custody for just being at the wrong place at the wrong time. The man who was going thru the list didn't even have her name even felt sympathetic to her. Eventually landing in the line of the headsman to be killed, alduin attacked. She wasn't having this. She burned her binds amidst the chaos and escaped. Continuing her work as a mage and studying independently to working up to be the best Spell Sword she could be. Ending up helping the college, she ended up taking Savos Arens place as the Arch Mage. When the war started getting worse and seeing her dunmer people suffering in windhelm, she joined the imperial army. Having a custom helmet hiding her identity, she didn't want many to know bout her. The tide of war ended up in favor of the stormcloaks. She ended up hiding away at the college. But some unexpected things happened....

Ajani- the Sneaky Readguard

Ajani is about 5'10 in height and around 30 or so years old. He is known as "The Man with the Golden Eyes" and is a charmer. He is a follower of Nocturnal and is both an Assassin and a Thief. Married to Ysolda who isn't so innocent herself, he's able to get away with many things. He is duel bladed.

It was the end of the line. The law had finally caught up with him, well not in the way he'd thought but it did. The Imperial ambush wasn't pleasant but by the time he had reached the the town, he had accepted death. But like everyone that day, alduin had saved them all in a way. In the mess of the chaos, he was able to maneuver himself to get his binds to the front of him and have a sharp rock cut it. Man it felt good to be back. He had to be careful on the way back to riften... Guards were always patrolling these days. Back at the guild, issues were stirring... Mercer Frey... And on top same with the brotherhood. Both issues had him busy. but when both were resolved, he decided to play the hand of the war. There was legend of the mystical "Jagged Crown" that the imperials wanted and where preparing to get. Oh how it would look beautiful next to the crown of barenziah they had. So that was his job... Get the crown. That part was easy... But even then the brotherhood had one on top... Killing Titus mede. He was in for a challenge. He had to be methodical.... (I haven't fully fixed this one yet but here it is)

Uzoma- The Giant Of the Battlefield

Uzoma is tall. Like TALL. he's 7'1 and has custom weapons to compensate for this. He is a redguard and has been a captain in holds as well as accompanied Tullius And Rikke at the summit held by the Greybeards. He lost vision in his left eye due to a knife attack when he was just a regular soldier. Married to Mercurio

Helgen had reached uzoma late. The news was 4 days old to him. And in that time he was recalled back to castle dour to be put at a new fort for the new bloods joining... That is of course until he was to be reassigned again. However, how did he join the legion? Well... He had lost his family as a teen and ended up travito cyrodiil. Joining the guard, he met his brother in arms, Azireth. Both rose thru and joined the army. It was all quiet until torygg was killed. That's when he made it to Skyrim and continually rising the ranks to a legate. But to continue, he was based in fort Amol, then by Tullius and rikke's side. The war raged. Worrying his lover with the battles... The war has soon ended with a crushing defeat outside of solitude. Tullis and Rikke gone... He retired... Or so he had thought. Tiberius was a suspicious one to him. Only then finding out about his bloodline being royal, uzoma pledged allegiance and protection to Tiberius to retake Skyrim and bring it back.

Azireth- The all-rounder Captian

Azireth is definitely shorter than his brother in arms uzoma... Only at 5'11. But he is one to be feared with use of poisons and destruction magic paired with his sword craft. Married to the mercenary Jenassa, after the war until he was killed in another battle, he ran a farm and hunted.

Azireth was stationed in the gloomy falkwreath when he saw the notorious black dragon fly over. He knew things would be worse before they got better. When off from duty he would hunt and farm... And of course help Jenassa. Azireth and uzomas story are close. But azireth joined in the taking back of Skyrim later... And had an untimely demise with the last siege Tiberius had planned...

Fenrir Foxfang- Stormcloak with a Redemption arc

Strong devotions to Talos lead him down this path which only depressed him. But with Tiberius showing him mercy and helping him redeem himself, he changed and swore allegiance. Average height at about 6'1, he's your Nord man of the woods. Married to Breylyna.

Yea he probably shouldn't have started beating up those thalmor justiciar... But they were trying to take him in for Talos worship. That's how he ended up beside ralof and Ulfric himself. He didn't want to die. But seeing that bitch of a thalmor in helgen made him even madder. Maybe the Stormcloaks had a point. He should be free to worship who he wanted. When the alduin came, he escaped with ralof and made his way out with him and decided to get sign up with the stormcloaks as soon as he could. Quickly rising, he was a hardened warrior. But by the end, he saw Ulfric for who he was... But he couldn't just say it. Hell he was the one who beheaded Tullius with Ulfric and galmar egging him on. That's when he realized something wasn't right, especially what Tullius had said bout the thalmor. After that battle he settled out into his home in the swamp and tundra of morthal... Where he began to evaluate his life. He hung up his armor and thought deeply. He had decided to go to the college in winterhold and find some knowledge there... Since Ulfric was worried about the moot... He there met breylyna... Whom he then courted for awhile. And then married her. He had found some happiness. Then chaos... Ulfric was angered. The jagged crown had gone missing. It was originally in castle dour but now gone. Fenrir hid away. Weeks he stayed low-key, hunting and foraging... Until one day when he was chopping wood and breylyna milking the cow, Tiberius had approached. Fenrir wasn't happy about that and they fought shortly. Fenrir was then asked if he would fight again, this time against Ulfric...this was his second chance and by Talos he wasn't throwing it away...

Aesirya- The Plant

Average height of a high elf. Aesirya is the empires spy in the thalmor watch. She's been to both places and on patrol. She's able to sneak stuff out and in due to her trust amongst the thalmor.

Trained in espionage, she was originally going to be a mage at the guild in cyrodiil when the white gold concordat was put in place. With her loyalty to the Empire, she offered herself to infiltrate the ranks of the Thalmor. From there was able to rise up and be a justiciar and other things. They had tabs on everyone. When the war broke out in Skyrim, it was crucial for her to get info. The war was working in the thalmors eyes anyway... But when the news came f a problematic Nord halfling, she was on that. Tiberius sepim...or so he thought... No... He was the descendant of the septim dynasty. She had sent that to uzoma who made Tullius aware... They had to keep him safe at all costs.

Tiberius- the Lost Hier

I don't have too much on him as he is my partners character... But he is a descendant of the Septim Dynasty and the heir to the throne. He ends up leading two successful rebellions and brings back unity.

Antagonist list and bigger story in the future. I will make a masterpost for this.

[samwisethewitch]

10 Magic Herbs You Can Find at the Grocery Store

When you’re first getting started with witchcraft or another magical practice, it can be easy to get caught up in all of the material stuff involved. Witchy hashtags on social media are filled with pictures of huge sparkly crystals, gorgeous handmade ritual tools, and beautifully elaborate altars. Many spells in books or online call for a long list of herbs, some of which are expensive or hard to come by. For baby witches, it’s easy to feel like you can never be a “real” witch unless you have money for these expensive tools and toys.

This is not true. As we’ve talked about in previous chapters of this series, you don’t need any tools or material components to cast a spell — however, harnessing the energy of plants, crystals, and imagery can be a helpful way to add energy to your work. This doesn’t mean you need to spend a lot of money. In fact, many of the most powerful and useful magical tools can be found on the spice aisle in your local supermarket, or even at the dollar store.

For example:

Salt. Salt is a witch’s best friend. It can be used for cleansing, banishing, protection, grounding, or to neutralize energy. Surrounding something with a circle of salt will protect it [Note: do NOT make salt circles outside, as salt will kill plant life!], and washing something with salt water will cleanse its energy. I often include salt in any spell that I feel needs an extra layer of protection.

Sugar. Just as salt banishes unwanted energy, sugar attracts the things you want into your life. Sugar can be used for any and all attraction spells, whether you’re looking to attract love, money, success, or something else. It can also be used to “sweeten” a situation, or make it more favorable.

Cinnamon. There’s pretty much no positive spell that doesn’t benefit from cinnamon. Cinnamon has associations with healing, love, success, and material wealth, but is also strongly associated with protection. I love burning cinnamon as incense — it fills the whole room with warm, cozy energy.

Cayenne. Cayenne is often used for banishing or binding spells, but a lesser known use is for getting things moving. Cayenne is a very fiery plant, so any spell dealing with passion, motivation, or drive can benefit from its inclusion. Cayenne can be used to “light a fire” under someone to motivate them to action. However, cayenne is a more harsh energy, so I often pair it with lavender or another soothing herb.

Coffee. I most often use coffee for grounding or to anchor things to the physical world. For example, I might include it in a prosperity spell to make sure the results manifest in my everyday life. Coffee is also energizing and brings mental clarity, and can enhance psychic abilities. Brewed coffee is also used in some traditions as an offering for spirits.

Bay leaves (Bay Laurel). Bay leaves are one of the most popular spell components because of their association with granting wishes. You’ve probably heard of the practice of writing a wish on a bay leaf and burning it to manifest your desire. I often include bay leaves in manifestation magic for this reason. Bay leaves can also be used for purification, cleansing, and exorcism.

Ginger. Ginger adds power to any spell it is included in. Ginger tea or gingery food can also give you a personal energy boost. I add ginger to any spell that needs some extra “oomph.” It is also associated with success.

Basil. Basil is very commonly used in money spells. Carrying a basil leaf on your person is believed to attract wealth. It also has associations with protection.

Peppermint. Peppermint is another herb that can add power to virtually any spell. It can bring healing and purification, can remove obstacles and free up stuck energy, and can enhance psychic abilities. Peppermint is a common ingredient in dream pillows. You can find peppermint tea at virtually any grocery store, and many stores also carry the essential oil.

Lavender. Lavender is my favorite herb for bringing peace to a situation. It’s very good for healing magic and for soothing difficult emotions. Lavender is also associated with love, and I especially like to use it in spells for self love. Most stores carry lavender essential oil, and you can also find herbal teas that include it as an ingredient.

With the above herbs at your side, you’ll have everything you need to cast virtually any type of spell. Honestly, even if you just have salt, sugar, and maybe some white candles, you can create powerful spells for dozens of different intentions, from protection to self love to getting a job. Remember, what matters isn’t so much what you have — it’s your intention.

These are also edible, so they can be incorporated into magical recipes for different intentions. In fact, most of the ingredients you cook with every day have magical associations and can do double duty as powerful additions to your spells. For more information about the magical uses of common household herbs and spices, I highly recommend the book A Green Witch’s Cupboard by Deborah J. Martin, which is where most of the info for this post came from.

Other useful magical items that you can pick up at the grocery store include:

Olive oil. Olive oil can be used as an all-purpose anointing oil for candles, ritual tools, or your body. It can also be used to dilute essential oil, or as a base for custom magical oils.

Tealight candles. These small candles are perfect for candle spells. White tealights can be used for any intention.

House plants. Many common houseplants have magical associations. For example, aloe brings protection and healing. You can also grow some witchy herbs, like peppermint or rosemary, indoors.

Epsom salt. Epsom salt is a great base for bath spells. You can add essential oils and herbs to make custom bath salts — just be sure to research oils and herbs ahead of time, as some can cause skin irritation. [Note: Epsom salt is not actually salt, and cannot be substituted for salt in spells.]

Notebooks. Writing things down is an important part of witchcraft. Keeping a record of your spells, divination, and magical experiences makes it easier to keep track of everything.

Again, I want to stress that you don’t need a specific set of tools to be a witch. In fact, you can do highly effective magic without ever working with herbs at all. But if you want to gather some items to add power to your spells or help you feel more witchy (after all, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to set the mood!), you can get everything you need for a few bucks at the local supermarket or dollar store. Remember, our ancestors worked magic with what they had — not with expensive crystal collections or exotic herbs.