Allison | Psychic & Medium

This one's been in the works for me for a week or so but I finally had enough peace in my busy moving schedule to sit down and make a pair - one for the front door and one for the back.

Use 9 silver [coloured] bells in place of knots or feathers so that these double as a door protection Witch Bell/s. Their peal as the door is opened wards off dark energies and brings in positive energy.

Use 3 threads:

Blue - for peace, calm, healing and protection

Yellow - for clear communication (So important in a share house)

Black- to absorb negative energy

I used embroidery thread but strips of fabric or anything you have around will do fine, as long as your bells can thread on.

Tie a loop large enough to slip on to your door handle, and then thread on your first bell. I always thread my bells onto the black thread so that they will reinforce each others ability to repel and control dark energies.

Start plaiting! Each time you cross a thread over repeat to yourself its purpose: "peace and calm, clear communication absorb the negative, peace and calm, clear communication, absorb the negative-" I find this helps my intent stay focused for such long projects.

When you've plaited enough space that your bells won't touch, thread on another. Repeat this until the 9th bell. Tie this one on with a strong ending statement such as "In this Home!" Or "So mote it be!"

Please note - though I myself am not a spirit worker, I’ve done enough research and seen enough of other people’s personal stories to say this: spirit work is not always light and fluffy and happy (obviously it can be, but not all the time). Spirits are not all willing to work with you peacefully - some are even downright rude or aggressive. It can be dangerous, and there are risks of getting involved with other entities not of this world. Make sure you know what you are getting into completely and are well prepared before engaging. Read and practice at your own discretion.

Updated: August 18th, 2016

General

[A Beginner’s Guide to Spirit Companionship]

[All the Spirits, All the Places] (tw: gif)

[Are You Overcomplicating Spirit Companionship for Yourself?]

[Bonding 101] (tw: gif)

[Boundaries - The First Component of Constructive Spirit Work]

[Branches of Spirit Work]

[Caution: Calling/Attaching Spirits]

[Common Spirit ‘Scams’]

[Considerate Spirit Offerings]

[Dealing with Spirit Anxiety]

[Dealing with Spirit-Induced Trauma and Injuries]

[Dealing with Spirits You Don’t Want to Deal With]

[Discernment and You]

[Guardian/Protective Spirits]

[House Rules]

[How to Make Your Home More Inviting For Spirits]

[I Have No Time for My Spirit Companions]

[If an “Unbound” Spirit Approaches You]

[A More In-Depth Guide to Dealing with House Spirits]

[On Large Spirit Families]

[Settling In: Getting to Know Your House Spirits]

[Spirit-Caused Wounds]

[Spirit Companions: DIY]

[Spirit Companionship]

Spirit Companionship: [What Is It?]; [Why Choose Companionship?]; [Misconceptions]; [It’s a Commitment]

[Spirit Companionship and Insecurity vs. Trust in Yourself]

Spirit Companionship FAQ: [Part 1]; [Part 2]

[Spirit Defense]

[Spirit Do’s And Don’ts]

[Spirit Etiquette]

[Spirit Guides vs. Companions]

[Spirit Work]

[Spirit Work Basics]

[Spirit Work: The Importance of Putting Yourself First] (tw: gif)

[Spirit Worker Reminders]

[Spirits And Astral Walking]

[Spirits and Demons and Where to Start]

[Spirits and the Danger of Spirit Work, FAQ]

[Thoughts on Spirit Work]

[Working with Spirits]

[Working with Spirits: Contracts]

Communication

[Communicating with House Spirits]

[Contacting Spirit Guides and Other Entities]

[Contacting Your Spirit Guides]

[Guide: How to Communicate with Spirits, Gods, and Other Unseen]

[How I Communicate with Spirits]

How to Communicate With Your Spirit Companion: [Part 1]; [Part 2]

[In-Depth Psychic Communication Guide for Spirit Contact]

[So You Want to Talk to Spirits?]

[Spirit Communication: Tips]

[Spirits: Communications And Customs]

[Ten Things to Avoid When Communicating with Spirits]

[Tuning to the Dead]

Channeling

[Channel a Spirit] (an ask)

[Tips on Channeling Spirits] (an ask)

Possession

[How to Avoid Getting Possessed] (an ask)

[On the Topic of Possession, Attacks, and Other Spirit Problems]

[Spirit Vessels]

[What Exactly is Horsing] (an ask)

Banishing / Exorcism

[Dealing With Dead People - Banishing & Exorcism]

[Exorcism 101]

[How to Banish a Spirit]

[Kicking Them Out - An Intro to Banishings, Cleaning House, and Astral Relationship Intervention]

Spells and Magic

[Banishment Spell, Spirits Begone] (tw: sigil)

[Bottle of Spirit Be-Gone]

[Candle Spell to Banish Negative Energies or Spirits]

[Creating a Spirit Trap Stone]

[For Pleasing Household Spirits]

[“Get the Fuck Out!” Spell - Dead People Verison]

[Quick Protection Ward]

[Ritual to Invite Spirit Contact]

[Samhain Spirit Spell]

[Séance Water]

[Selective Spirit Door-Bar]

[The Soul Alchemists Trap Box]

[Spirit Drive-Out]

[Spirit Poppets]

[The Spirit Vessel]

[Spirit Working Powder]

Sigils

[A variety of spirit companion sigils]

[“Get out of my house, you wispy motherfuckers”]

[“I am not fearful of otherworldly entities”]

[“I am protected from malicious spirits”]

[“I am protected from negative spirits”]

[“I can easily channel spirits without negative impact”]

[“I can see spirits and ghosts”]

[“I communicate easily and quickly with spirits around me”]

[“I communicate with spirits with ease”]

[“I easily communicate with ghosts”]

[“I see and communicate with spirits with ease”]

[“I will have success in spirit work”]

[“Nice, positive spirits are attracted to me and communicate with me”]

[“No malicious beings may enter”]

[“Only kind spirits may enter and stay here”]

[“Protect this dwelling from all negative and evil spirits”]

[“Spirits bring me knowledge not harm”]

[“Spirits cannot enter through these portals without being invited”]

[“Spirits will not and cannot enter through this portal without being invited first”]

Blogs

[blackbearmagic​]

[spiritconnect​]

[spirithighway]

[spiritvexer]

[thedragonslibrary]

[thiscrookedcrown]

Every witch has a deep well of local energy to draw from in their craft. So much can be learned from what’s around you; you just need to tap into it.

Learn about endangered species. Take steps to protect them.

Learn about invasive species. Learn their properties, pull them up, and use them in witchcraft.

Study the plants around you.

Learn their medicinal properties.

Learn their magical properties.

Learn their scientific names.

Learn which ones are edible and which ones are poisonous.

Learn about local animals– which ones are endangered, myths surrounding them, etc.

Research the meanings behind names of towns, streets, parks, buildings, etc. There may be interesting bits of history or folklore.

Identify major natural forces in your area (eg: storms, the ocean, wildfires)

How do they affect you?

How can you get in touch with them?

How can you harness their power in your magic?

Research local folklore.

Get involved with conservation programs or environmentalist groups in your area.

Observe how the land around you changes with the seasons. What can you see at certain times that you can’t at others? What flowers bloom, what bugs are active?

Go out in nature! Familiarize yourself with the wonderful energies that surround you.

See also: 

https://rootandrock.tumblr.com/post/58725340251/books-dont-cover-everything

http://grimnirs-child.tumblr.com/post/164025583442/traditional-witchcraft-in-the-city

I am into bioregional animism and each area is unique has it’s own magic and energy!!! 

Some other tips are: 

Research your local agrarian cycle. Look into a farmers almanac or what natives have eaten there around the year for centuries. Many witches observe the wheel of the year which is an agrarian cycle based off of the western European islands but it really does not apply for any other climate any where else. Make your own equinox and solstice celebrations based off of your local environment and collaborate with witches in your regional climate to form a community but also get ideas for practices to help you be in tuned with your local nature! 

If you could, taking care of potted plants of local nature, having a garden or working in a community garden can do wonders to help you get connected! Even better in some towns (like my own) we have programs where we can participate to make our yard a mini habitat for local birds, animals and insects like especially the butterflies and honeybees. (We have to grow certain plants in our backyard to participate that will attract these animals). If you have the space and opportunity, helping your yard to be a natural habitat will help the local nature! 

Speaking of the agrarian cycles, research what foods are local to you and when they are in season! Incorporate it into your kitchen magic! Most places often have periods of the year where they like to pickle foods, ferment them, smoke them, or it’s in abundance! Get in tune with the food local to you!

Familiarize yourself with the local trees or the large plants and roots around you. Trees are powerful teachers and their fallen branches have been used in magic for centuries. (Cactuses are super powerful beings too lol). Try to befriend some!

Bonus if you are looking for an animal companion, it would be cool to get a pet that would be suited for your environment! (which goes without saying that all pets should be bought in an environment they will be happy in) Desert witches with cool lizards or (harmless) snakes! Southern swamp witches with turtles and toads! Tropical gulf witches with colorful budgies or iguanas! Plains witches with bunnies that can hop forever in a huge fenced yard! Also some witches I know from various regions have certain companions for reasons that are cultural and make sense like my witchy friends from Pennsylvania all have dog companions but most grew up on farms and large open space. 

Do / Don't 

Life / Death

Problem / Solution

Now / Later

Logical / Emotional

Yes / No

Internal / External 

Past / Future

Growth / Stagnation

Love / Hate

Apathy / Empathy

Find / Lose

Flaws / Strengths

Day / Night

Physical / Abstract

Stay / Leave 

Creation / Destruction 

Okay, sure, sometimes a reading can be inaccurate. It takes practice… that’s what you’re doing… I’m so proud of you (for whatever that is worth).

Sometimes the person isn’t ready to hear the message and so they think it’s inaccurate. Sometimes it’s just not clear, and it’ll become clear later. 

I’m seriously so pissed off at this absolute cunt of an anon. Anon, get bent.

@thesquishywizard I hope you keep doing readings, and I hope you learn and grow and practice. And I hope that one day people pay you for readings. Don’t let this anonymous coward affect your life in any way shape or form.

aka, little things to distance your craft from capitalism

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I.e. buying your herbs straight from the farmer. Or buying your groceries straight from the people who grew them.