twigofthelaurelcrown

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All-Purpose Cursing Powder

Intent: To really fuck up someone’s day. Useful for all types of curses from casual to severe.

Ingredients:

Cayenne

Black Pepper

White Pepper

Jalapeño Powder

Bloodroot

Black Walnut Hull

Cinnamon

Cramp Bark

Nettle

Paprika

Onion Powder

Materials:

Mortar & Pestle (or spice grinder)

Funnel

Mesh Strainer

Collection Dish

Container

Note: Powdered versions of most herbs are available online. I recommend such sites as Starwest Botanicals and Penn Herbs for the quality products at reasonable prices. Also, if you can get your hands on a good spice grinder, you can make your own powder from dried herb products. Grind each ingredient separately to produce fine powder. Sieve the material through the mesh strainer into the collection dish; this removes the larger unground pieces and gives you cleaner powdered herb. (Pro-Tip: Putting a funnel under the mesh strainer reduces lost material and makes collection much easier.) Combine the component powders in the collection dish, mix well, and bottle immediately. For volume, go heavier on the less expensive or more easily available materials like Cayenne, Black Pepper, Paprika, Cinnamon, and Onion Powder. Otherwise, combine in more or less even amounts. This mix is all-purpose. Add to curse jars or toxic person removal spells for an extra bite. Drop a pinch in your enemy’s yard or on their doorstep for instant casual cursing. Whisper the name of a person you want to curse and blow a small amount of powder downwind (so it doesn’t come back in your face). Sprinkle into burning bowls or incenses for crossing, hexing, and ill-wishing. (Please note that some of these materials are irritants; do not inhale the powder or the smoke that rises from it, and do NOT add it to food or drink as a method of delivery.)

For more recipes to fill out your potion kit, you can check out Pestlework: A Book of Magical Powders & Oils. (Available on Amazon and in my shop!)

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

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Protection & Warding ⚔️ [long post]

A guide on protecting yourself and your home. 

updated 12.8.24

Personal Protection

Wear an amulet on your person - can be made from man-made or natural materials so long as its intent is to protect

Keep a protective crystal in your pocket

Craft a small protective spell jar and keep on your person

Anoint yourself with a protective oil

Place an energetic shield around yourself 

Place a glamour on yourself to go unnoticed in the presence of harmful or negative energies

Carry a piece of iron on your person

Bathe with a wash made from protective herbs

Sleep with a sachet of herbs under your pillow or hanging above your bed to prevent nightmares

Prayers and offerings to your patron deity

Hang a protective amulet from the rearview mirror in your vehicle for safe travels

Home & Hearth Protection

Hang rose stems with thorns intact above the entrance of your home

Hang an upside down horseshoe above the entrance of your home (some lore states you should hang the horseshoe right-side-up)

Hang wind chimes or bells outside of your home

Create a “Witch Bottle” and bury in your front yard, or in a potted plant on your porch

Create a “Witch’s Ladder” or “Witch Ball” and hang it either inside or outside of your home

Hang imagery of protective symbols outside or around your home

Burn protective incense in your home

Create a room spray made from protective oils and spray around your home

Create a protective wash and use it to clean your windows, door frames, and tile/wooden floors 

Use the wash mentioned above to “paint” symbols of protection on the outside of your front door, on your porch, etc. 

Place a protective crystal at each corner inside your home

Place a small glass of salt at each corner inside your home

Hammer 3 iron nails into your front door

Create a protective powder and sprinkle around the perimeter of your home - alternately, sprinkle outside of your front and back door

Create a sachet filled with protective herbs and crystals - keep inside or outside of your home, in your vehicle, etc.

Hang mirrors inside of your home

Place a crystal grid at the center of your home using protective crystals

Call upon your patron deity to protect your home and those who reside in it

Protective Symbols & Items

Pentacle

Triquetra 

Witch’s Knot

Algiz (Elhaz) rune

Vegvisir

Helm of Awe

Mjolnir

Glyph of the Moon, Mars, or Saturn

Eye of Horus

Ankh

Crossed Swords

Iron nails

Railroad spikes

Thorns

War Water

Flying Devil Oil

Third & Fifth Pentacle of Saturn; Third & Sixth Pentacle of Jupiter; Sixth Pentacle of Mars; Second, Third, & Fifth Pentacle of the Moon

Crystals

Agate

Amethyst - protection against psychic attacks and while traveling

Angel Aura Quartz - spiritual protection

Apophyllite

Aqua Aura Quartz - protection against psychic attacks

Aquamarine - protection while traveling via water

Astrophyllite

Aventurine

Beryl - protection while traveling

Blue Goldstone

Bowenite

Bronzite

Bustamite

Catlinite - spiritual protection

Carnelian - protection from negative emotions

Celestite - emotional protection

Chalcopyrite

Chrysoberyl

Citrine - protection from nightmares

Clear Quartz

Diamond

Dravite

Eudialyte

Fire Agate

Fluorite - protection against psychic attacks

Galaxite

Garnet

Indicolite

Infinite Stone

Jade

Jasper

Jet

Lapis Lazuli

Lepidolite

Malachite - protection during pregnancy and childbirth

Moonstone - protection during pregnancy, childbirth, and while traveling via water

Mother of Pearl - protection for children

Nuumite

Obsidian

Onyx

Peridot

Pyrite

Rose Quartz - protection during pregnancy and childbirth

Ruby - protection of the home and hearth

Salt

Schorl

Shungite

Smithsonite

Smoky Quartz

Snowflake Obsidian

Sugilite

Tanzanite

Tiger’s Eye

Turquoise

Vauxite - protection from nightmares

Botanicals

Acacia, Aconite, Acorn (protection from lightning), African Violet, Ague, Alder (protection for the deceased), Alfalfa (protection from hunger and poverty), Alkanet (protection from snakebites and the fear of snakes), Aloe (protection from household accidents), Amaranth (protection from bullets), Amber, Angelica, Anise Seeds, Ash (protection from drowning and while traveling), Aspen (protection against thieves), Bamboo, Barley, Basil, Bay Laurel (protection from lightning), Bay Leaf (protection for your home and family, protection against baneful magic), Belladonna, Bergamot (protection from illness), Bilberry Bark, Birch (protection from lightning and infertility), Black Cohosh (protection from accidents and sudden death), Black Haw, Black Pepper, Blackberry, Bladderwrack (protection while traveling), Blessed Thistle, Bloodroot, Blue Violet, Blueberry, Boneset, Brimstone, Buckeye (protection against arthritis), Buckwheat, Cactus, Calamus, Calendula, Carnation, Caraway, Cascara Sagrada (protection against baneful magic), Catnip (protection while sleeping), Cedar (protection from lightning), Celandine, Chia, Chives, Chrysanthemum, Cilantro (protection for gardeners), Cinnamon, Cinquefoil (protection for loved ones on a journey), Clove (protection for babies), Clover, Coconut, Comfrey (protection while traveling), Coriander, Corn, Cotton, Cramp Bark, Cranberry, Cumin, Curry, Cypress, Daisy (protection for babies), Dandelion Root (protection while sleeping), Datura, Devil’s Bit, Devil’s Claw, Dill, Dogwood, Dragon’s Blood, Ebony, Elder (protection for the deceased), Elm (protection from lightning), Eucalyptus, False Unicorn Root (protection during pregnancy and childbirth), Fennel, Fern, Feverfew (protection against accidents and cold/flu), Figwort (protection for your home), Flaxseed (protection for your home, protection against baneful magic), Fleabane, Foxglove (protection for your home and garden), Frankincense, Gardenia, Garlic, Geranium, Ginger, Ginseng, Gorse (protection against baneful magic), Hawthorn (protection from lightning), Heather (protection against violent crimes), Heliotrope, Henna (protection from illness), Hickory, High John the Conqueror, Holly, Horseradish, Hyssop (protection for property against burglars and trespassers), Irish Moss (protection while traveling), Ivy, Juniper, Kava Kava, Lady Slipper (protection against baneful magic), Larch (protection against theft), Larkspur, Laurel, Lavender, Leek, Lemon, Lemon Verbena (protection of your home, protection from lightning and storms), Lettuce, Lime, Lotus, Lucky Hand Root (protection while traveling), Mandrake, Marigold (protection while sleeping), Marjoram, Marshmallow Root, Mimosa, Mint, Mistletoe (protection from lightning and fire), Mullein (protection from nightmares and baneful magic), Nutmeg, Oak Moss, Olive Leaf, Onion, Papyrus, Parsley (protection for your home), Peat Moss, Peony, Periwinkle (protection against snakes and poison), Pimpernel, Pine, Pineapple, Plantain (protection from snake bites and jealousy), Quince, Radish, Raspberry Leaf, Red Clover (protection for pets), Rhubarb, Rice, Rowan, Rue, Sage, Sandalwood, Saw Palmetto, Sea Salt, Sheep Sorrel (protection from heart disease), Slippery Elm, Snapdragon, Solomon’s Seal, Spanish Moss, Spearmint, St. John’s Wort (protection from baneful magic, lightning, and fire), Straw Flower, Sunflower, Tangerine, Thistle, Toadflax, Tonka Bean (protection from disease), True Unicorn Root (protection from baneful magic), Valerian, Venus Fly Trap, Violet, Willow (protection from lightning, storms, and disease), Witch Hazel, Wood Aloe, Wood Betony, Woodruff, Wormwood (protection against dangerous roads while traveling), Yerba Santa, Yew, Yucca (protection of your home)

Metals

Chromium

Lead

Iron

Nickel

Pewter

Steel

Titanium

Zinc

Lunar Phases

Waxing - to attract protective energy and positivity

Full - generalized protection 

Waning - to banish negativity, thus protecting the caster

Planets

Moon

Mars

Saturn

Days of the Week

Monday

Tuesday

Saturday

© 2025 ad-caelestia

[twigofthelaurelcrown]

Herbarium

Welcome to my master post for all the herbs, plants, and flowers I’ll be sharing on my blog.

General Warning ⚠️

While I’ve included some precautions, this may not a complete list of possible risks.

Many herbs and plants can be toxic, poisonous, or cause allergic reactions and side effects. Always take proper safety measures when handling them.

Before using any plant for external applications, creams, teas, consumption, oils, or baths:

✔ Identify it correctly – Mistaken identity can be dangerous.

✔ Clean and disinfect – Plants may carry bacteria, pesticides, or contaminants.

✔ Research thoroughly – Understand its benefits, risks, and interactions.

✔ Consult a doctor and dermatologist – Especially for medicinal or skincare use.

✔ Check for allergies – Even mild plants can cause serious reactions.

For safety, it's best to grow your own herbs from trusted seeds or purchase from licensed sellers. Always verify the quality and source before buying. Avoid foraging wild plants unless you can identify them with absolute certainty and ensure they are free from pollutants or toxins. If in doubt, leave the plant untouched.

⚠ Pregnancy & Breastfeeding: Do not use any herbs during pregnancy or while breastfeeding unless specifically approved by your doctor.

https://www.tumblr.com/green-witch-archives/775900450564210688/aloe-vera?source=share

Stay safe and enjoy exploring the world of plants responsibly!

(this list will be updated with every new post I make)

A

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Super easy and cheap devotional acts for beginners.

A nice cup and some clean, fresh, water on the altar can often be all you need for daily offerings

Grow a plant on your altar, use your weekly watering as a devotional act. Hermes is currently helping my peace lily grow :)

Draw their sigil on your nails and then paint over them with nail polish that matches their color correspondences.

If you can’t acquire alcohol for your deities (wine, vodka etc) because you’re too young, white vinegar also works. The quality we’re looking for is the purification aspect. White vinegar is natural, antibacterial and never goes bad. You can leave it on your altar until it evaporates if you want.

If you work with a deity involved with self love like Aphrodite, investing a little more time into your skin care and scent can be very rewarding. Nothing super boujie, it can be as simple as getting some nice smelling lotion at the dollar store.

Food and water offerings don’t have to be external, especially if you’re in the broom closet and don’t have an altar. Reserve the first bite of your meal for your deity. Savour its taste while you think about them. Pour yourself a crisp glass of cold water and guzzle it as a devotional act.

Use a washable or dry erase marker to draw sigils on your shower wall for bath rituals. It’ll come right off when you’re done.

Tea bags are just bags of dried herbs. You can use these as offerings or draw sigils on them and burn them for witchcraft. No one is ever suspicious about a little tea. Adding a tea bag to your water offerings also gives them an extra kick.

A couple dollars at the thrift store will take you a long way. I love thrifting items because they’re usually well loved. I especially like thrifting spirituality books that past practitioners have written in. Sometimes my deities communicate with me through the books that are available on any given day. If I was just talking to Leviathan about the power of water and I see a book about Hydromancy, I know that he’s sending me a sign. Like, 90% of the books Lucifer has sent me popped up at the thrift store. Most expensive one was $7.99. (and I tag swapped it for 2.99 😊 thanks, Hermes-

and on this note, literally steal. Not from small local thrift stores, but I mean this with my whole chest, steal from Value Village. If you can sneakily swap a tag and get something for cheaper literally do it. Value Village gets all their inventory for free I literally do not care. Corporate thrift stores don’t deserve rights. I steal from Value Village as a devotional act to Hermes 😊 lmao )

If you don’t have money to spend on really nice paintings and posters of your deities for your altar, start buying books about them. It’s a double win. A book about Greek religion will certainly have multiple beautiful sculptures and paintings of Aphrodite that I can cut out and put on my wall. A book about angels might have a cool painting of Lucifer. Books about Goddesses, ancient religions, anthropology, astrology etc. You get the opportunity to learn, and if it’s a book you don’t particularly care too much for, you can take it apart for imagery. People ask me all the time where I got all of my paintings and pictures from. BOOKS.

Does your deity have a kind of complicated sigil that you love but you also kinda hate redrawing every other day? Sorry Cerberus (Naberius) I love you but that sigil is so complicated babe.

Learn how to block print! It’s very simple. You get a block of linoleum (usually pretty cheap, I think mine were like $5) , some ink (~$10), and a carving tool (varies depending), and make a sigil stamp! All you gotta do is draw your sigil and carve it out nicely one time. You can still bless it and imbue it with your energy, and you can easily put it on prayers, talismans etc.

Chalk is your best friend. Use it to draw sigils on the floor or wall that can easily be wiped away. You can imbue special chalk and use it for casting circles if you don’t like the mess of salt.

[twigofthelaurelcrown]

Valentine’s Witchery

Witchy things for everyone on Valentine’s day, not just the hopeless romantics!

Correspondences:

Flowers: Roses, jasmine, lilacs, daisies, marigold, most flowers!

Spices and Herbs: Vanilla, lavender, chamomile, pepper, basil, cinnamon, bay leaves.

Crystals: Rose quartz, pearls, opal, citrine, jade, clear quartz. 

Incense: Amber, cherry, jasmine, rose, sandalwood, ylang-ylang.

Glamour:

Aphrodite glamour water

Siren’s lipstick spell

Eye catching glamour spell

Glamour solid perfume

“Life of the party” glamour charm

Attracting Romance Spells:

Simple love attraction spell

To attract a kind person for a relationship

Love spell for a third party

Love drawing bath soak

Romance Tarot Spreads:

Valentine tarot spread (3 card)

Love tarot spread (4 card)

What are the chances here? (6 card)

Anti-Romance Spells:

Ice queen breath spray 

To repel an unwanted lover

Love repression spell

Anti-lust spell

“Cover My Ass” Anti-Harassment Charm

F*ck off… “leave me alone vibe” glamour

For the Brokenhearted: 

Mend the heart spell

Spell for emotional healing and moving forward

Forgetting that ex spell

Simple spell to heal the heart

Selkie spell to ease heartbreak

Heal your heart potion

Self Love Spells:

A simple self love spell

Self love bath

Self love bath spell

Self Love Tarot Spreads:

Beautiful you tarot spread (3 card)

Love letters to myself (5 card)

Handle with care (5 card)

Self love spread for V day! (6 card)

These lovely posts:

Secular magic for Valentine’s Day

Bedridden witch: Love edition

List of love spells

List of magic for strengthening romantic bonds

List of heartbreak-related magic

Valentine’s day masterpost

Last updated February of 2025, please inform me of broken links via askbox!

[twigofthelaurelcrown]

Magical Oil Recipes - Glamour Edition

For anyone looking to brew up some magic related to glamours, confidence, physical appearance, or eloquence, here are some recipes I’ve created that you might find useful.

To prepare them, blend the ingredients in such proportions as feels correct for your purposes (or as supplies allow). Use dried material except where indicated. Place a few spoonfuls in a mason jar with a screwtop lid and fill the jar with a bland oil of your choice. (Vegetable oil of the sort you would buy for cooking works fine.) Screw the lid on tightly and shake well to combine, then leave the jar in a dark dry place for 2-4 weeks to steep.

Once steeped, prepare a clean storage bottle (also with a secure lid) and label with the type of oil and the bottling date. Strain the oil through paper towels or cheesecloth to remove the plant material, then bottle immediately. Store away from sunlight and heat for up to one year. Use for spellwork as you see fit.

(Please note that NONE of these potions are meant to be taken internally by any means. Observe all proper safety measures related to glass, fire, and potentially harmful plants as necessary during preparation.)

*- Ingredient is potentially harmful if inhaled or ingested. **- Ingredient should not be used or handled if you are pregnant or nursing.

Belle of the Ball Beauty Oil For beauty glamours.

Orange Peel

Magnolia Petal

Maidenhair Fern

Primrose Blossoms**

Brand New Me Transformation Oil For self-improvement, physical changes, or personal growth.

Fennel

Lady's Mantle**

Pine Needles

Geranium Essential Oil Note: If your personal journey includes adjusting to a change in gender or sexuality, add a few Persimmon seeds to the mix.

Honeytongue Eloquence Oil For verbal persuasion and effective speech.

Honeysuckle

Orris Root

Licorice Root

Marshmallow Root** Note: Do not consume.

Increase the Thing Empowerment Oil For self-empowerment and glamours pertaining thereto.

Petunia Petals

Bergamot

Lemon Verbena

Sunflower Petals

It Wasn't Me Diversion Oil For diverting suspicion from yourself or your actions.

Dogbane (Black Hemp)

Cherry Bark

Blueberry Leaves

Marshmallow Root**

Lionheart Courage Oil For bravery and confidence spells.

Black Tea Leaves

Bay Leaf

Cedar Tips

Thyme Sprigs

Own the Runway Confidence Oil For supreme confidence.

Yarrow**

Sumac Berries

Ginger Root, Fresh

Pass Unseen Stealth Oil For perceived invisibility glamours.

Cherry Bark or Blossoms

Poppy Seeds**

Devil's Shoestring**

Dogwood Blossoms (if available)

Tearoom Forbearance Oil For when you need to keep your temper…no matter what.

Tea Leaves

Meadowsweet**

Echinacea**

Fir Balsam Essential Oil

Should the reader require supplies, I recommend the following:

Penn Herb Company

Starwest Botanicals

Bulk Apothecary

Mountain Rose Herbs

Specialty Bottle

Photo Credit - VeraPetruk

All recipes are © 2017 Bree NicGarran, published in Pestlework: A Book of Magical Powders & Oils. Please check out the book if you would like more recipes.

If you’re enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar, tune in to my podcast Hex Positive, or check out my published works on Amazon or in the Willow Wings Witch Shop.

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herbs for cleansing

70+ printable grimoire infographics ✨

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[twigofthelaurelcrown]

Religion doesn’t have to be hard or scary. It can be easy as dedicating the best bite of food to the gods, or taking care of yourself in their name. Let your intuition guide you, and don’t let the fear that you’re doing it wrong stop you from trying. 💖

[twigofthelaurelcrown]

My policy on trad craft books: cannibalize them. Take what's useful, leave the rest.

More often than not, any source is useful if you know how to pick it apart.

My philosophy for evaluation of books is as follows:

Read it, don't skim it. Does the author make broad /inaccurate/outlandish statements with no caveats or evidence? Do they provide historical context when it's needed?

Check the bibliography. Do they cite good sources? Are their sources reliable in themselves? Is there citogenesis?

Look up the author. Do they have biases-- conscious or unconscious -- that come through in their writing?

Content balance. How much theory is there in this book? How much how-to content (i.e. ready-made spells, rituals, cantrips, etc) is in this book? This, for me, is often a good benchmark of utility. When in doubt, go with the latter. More how-to means more material to adapt to my own devices. Not to say that theory is not useful; it's just not what I need in 70% of situations.

There are exceptions. Treading the Mill by Nigel Pearson has a lot of decent ideas, but there's one statement in there that I found very distasteful and I don't wish to use any of that methodology. But that's me. Mileage will vary by user.

[twigofthelaurelcrown]

2025 Witches' Calendar

For all my witches out there, here’s a handy list of the 2025 dates for the solstices, some commonly-referenced holidays, full and new moons, and special astronomical events. I’ve listed my sources at the bottom.

Dates and times for all events are calculated for Eastern Standard Time, USA, Northern Hemisphere. Adjust for your location as needed and check the DarkSky Placefinder to see what special events will be visible in your area.

On a related note, readers are encouraged to create their own seasonal calendars, holidays, and observances based on your local biome and personal preferences. Enjoy!

Solstices, Harvests, Quarter Days, Some Common Dates

February 1-2 - Imbolc / Candlemas / High Winter

March 20 - Spring Equinox / Ostara

April 30-May 1 - Beltane / May Day / Walpurgisnacht

June 20 - Summer Solstice / Midsummer / Litha

August 1 - Lughnasadh / Lammas / Summer Harvest

September 22 - Autumn Equinox / Mabon / Fall Harvest

October 31 - Samhain / Halloween / Final Harvest

December 21 - Winter Solstice / Yule

Full Moons

January 13 - Wolf Moon ♋

February 12 - Snow Moon ♌

March 14 - Worm Moon ♍ (Lunar Eclipse)

April 12 - Pink Moon ♎

May 12 - Flower Moon ♏

June 11 - Strawberry Moon ♐

July 10 - Thunder Moon (aka Buck Moon) ♑

August 9 - Sturgeon Moon (aka Corn Moon) ♒

September 7 - Harvest Moon ♓ (Lunar Eclipse)

October 6 - Hunter's Moon (aka Blood Moon) ♈

November 5 - Frost Moon (aka Beaver Moon) ♉ (Supermoon)

December 4 - Cold Moon ♊ (Supermoon)

* The full moons in September and October are almost EXACTLY equidistant from the Autumn Equinox this year, so whether you'll have a Harvest Moon in September or October depends on where you live!

New Moons

January 29 ♒

February 27 ♓

March 29 ♈

April 27 ♉

May 26 ♊

June 25 ♋

July 24 ♌

August 23 ♍

September 21 ♍ (Seasonal black moon, second new moon in Virgo)

October 21 ♎

November 20 ♏

December 19 ♐

Special Celestial Events

March 14 - Worm Moon Total Lunar Eclipse

March 29 - Solar Eclipse

September 7 - Harvest Moon Total Lunar Eclipse

September 21 - Seasonal Black Moon / Solar Eclipse

November 5 - Frost Moon Supermoon

December 4 - Cold Moon Supermoon

(Check the DarkSky Placefinder to see what will be visible in your area!)

Mercury Retrogrades (in case you need them)

March 14 to April 6

July 17 to August 10

November 9 to November 29

Happy Witching!

SOURCES & FURTHER READING:

Bree’s Lunar Calendar Series

Bree’s Secular Celebrations Series

Moon Info - Full Moon Dates for 2025

Calendar-12 - 2025 Moon Phases

Full Moonology - 2025 Full Moon Calendar

AstroStyle - All the 2025 Full Moons

Your Zodiac Sign - Astrology Calendar 2025

Old Farmer’s Almanac - Mercury Retrograde Dates 2024-2025

Sea and Sky - Astronomy Calendar of Celestial Events 2025

DarkSky International - Dark Sky Placefinder for Stargazing

Patheos - 2025 Wheel of the Year Astrological Calendar

Image Source - How Stuff Works

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If you’re enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar, tune in to my podcast Hex Positive, or check out my published works on Amazon or in the Willow Wings Witch Shop. 😊

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Making Your Own Witch’s Broom 🧹🌿

Making your own witch’s broom is a time-honored tradition and will add your own, personal energy and intentions into the broom. The main purpose of a witch’s broom is for cleansing your space, clearing away negative energy, and adding a dash of luck to your sacred space or altar space. Many people choose to use smaller brooms designated just to cleansing their altars, while larger brooms can be used to clean bigger spaces, such as your entire home. As you can see below, mine is about the same height as me, just a bit over 5ft. Your broom can be however tall you’d like though, so don’t feel pressure to make a larger one! If you’d prefer to make a small one for your altar, that’s great too!

If you want to make a large one like mine, start by picking a hefty stick that‘s roughly 5ft in length and 1 inch in diameter. The choice of wood is completely up to you, so pick a wood that best suits you. For mine, I chose birch.

For the broom head, you can basically pick anything you’d like for this part. Some people use wheat, thick grass, herbs, or twigs and hay. For mine, I chose twigs since witch’s broom are not meant to actually touch the floor (they rather sweep out the negative energies from a space, so they are kept about an inch or two off the floor.)

Ideally, you want to gather a bunch of twigs or hay that’s about 15 to 18 inches in length. You also want a 3 inch wide bundle distributed evenly around the broom stick. Position the bundle about 5 inches up from the bottom of the broom stick.

Wind leather, thin rope, or twine tightly around the bundle, but be careful not to pull too tightly or else you could snap your twigs if using a twig bundles. As you wind, you could use little dabs of glue as you go for extra hold.

Some witches add crystals to the bind when winding the twine or leather around the broom head bundle for added strength and protection. Depending on your needs and intentions, you have a lot of options! I personally chose a smokey quartz crystal to aid in keeping away negative energies when cleansing my space.

Cleansing with a Witch’s Broom 🧹

To attune your broom to your energy, intentions, and welcome it into your sacred space, conduct your first room cleansing with the broom.

Weather permitting, open your windows.

Stand in the middle of the room holding the broom vertically in both hands.

Breathe in, deep, and calmly.

Begin by symbolically sweeping your space, but not actually touching the floor (hold the broom about an inch above the floor- you’re sweeping away negativity, not actual dirt.)

Sweep the room in a counterclockwise spiral to banish the negativity. Imagine the energy of the room being stirred up like real dust, and imagine the dust changing from murky and dirty to clean and bright.

Continue to sweep the room in a counterclockwise spiral until you end up at the rooms doorway/threshold.

End by banishing the negativity out from your space by saying “Bright and Strong flows the energy through my home. This room is purified. So mote it be.”

[twigofthelaurelcrown]

Mabon🧡🍂

Mabon, also known as the autumn equinox, is the second time of the year when night and day are in perfect balance. At this time more crops are being harvested, food is being prepared for storage, and the darkness is creeping in more everyday. This sabbath is a celebration of harvest, abundance, and appreciation for family/friends.

🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁

Correspondences

🧡 Colors: orange, red, yellow, brown

💎 Crystals: amber, peridot, diamond, citrine

🌿 Herbs: rue, yarrow, rosemary, sage, frankincense, chamomile, cinnamon

🌻 Flowers: marigold, sunflowers, mums

🥧 Food: pies, bread, berries, nuts, grains, pumpkin

🔮 Spells: protection, prosperity, divination, security, balance, harmony, harvest, blessing

☀️ Altar ideas: autumn garland, gourds, candles, pumpkins, acorns, pine cones

Activities

• Go Apple picking

• Decorate your altar

• Host a potluck with friends & family

• Craft an autumn wreath for your door

• Donate can goods to charity

• Go on a nature walk

• Decorate your home with autumn decor

Low Energy Ideas

• Sit outside and enjoy the cool breeze

• Notice the changing colors

• Light an orange, red, and yellow candle

• Drink Apple cider

• Meditate with amber or citrine crystals

• Brew a pumpkin spice tea

• Get cozy in a blanket and watch an autumn movie

• Eat seasonal fruits and veggies

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APPLE: Love, health, longevity PEAR: Love,health, prosperity ORANGE: Joy, health, purification LEMON: Purification, protection, health LIME: Happiness, purification, healing GRAPE: Prosperity, fertility KIWI: fertility, love BANANA: Fertility, strength MANGO: Spirituality,…

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to help keep your life balanced and orderly.

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Taranis

Celtic god of thunder and war

The name Taranis derives from the Celtic root ‘taran’ meaning thunderer or thunder. The association of Taranis with fire is clear from the figure and Caesar’s words; the fire of the skies: the Sun, and the fire of the air: lightening and its voice thunder, giving the God his name, Taranis. Elsewhere we find Jove ‘complete with wheel,’ thought to represent the Celtic god of thunder, Taranis, who, hurling his wheel through the clouds, unleashed the terrible din.

Taranis was part of a sacred triad which also included the gods Esus and Tautatis. Many representations of a bearded god with a thunderbolt in one hand and a wheel in the other have been recovered from Gaul, where this deity apparently came to be synchronized with the Roman god Jupiter.

Taranis is unmistakably a sky god as he is often depicted riding across the heavens in a great chariot. The main emblems of Taranis are his wheel, which he often holds aloft, and a thunderbolt. It is said that the collected heads of the slain were dedicated to Taranis as offerings. It is also likely that he was originally a god of weather in general, rather than mainly thunderstorms. Though written sources also describe him as a “master of war”.

| Symbolism of Taranis - historical & personal |

Lightening 

Chariots

Clouds

Wheels

Weapons

Bulls

Eagles

| Offerings |

Wheels, lightening imagery, daggers, feathers, baked goods, meat, alcohol, strong incense, candles, imagery of his animals, artwork, and poetry to him

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Scandinavian Cabbage Soup

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1/2 stick butter

3 cup chopped cabbage

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup sliced celery

1 cup thin carrot slices

3-4 small red potatoes

1 can cream corn

1 can peas

1 cup half and half

3.5-4 cups chicken broth

1 tsp dried thyme

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp garlic powder

2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

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Melt butter in soup pot; saute cabbage, onion, celery, carrots and potatoes covered for 10 minutes or until tender.

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Add corn, peas, half and half, chicken broth, thyme, garlic powder, salt and pepper; simmer with lid on for about 25-30 minutes. Add cheese, stirring until melted.