Sending Out My Roots

To the anxious witches who couldn’t step out their front door today

To the witches with adhd who got nothing done and still haven’t been able to meditate

To the autistic witches who got sensory overload and spent the day trying to calm down

To the bipolar witches who had a particularly bad day

Here’s to the witches who are mentally ill and had it prevent them from doing something today.

I feel like it’s not said enough, you’re allowed to have bad days. Sometimes the wall is too big to climb. That’s okay, gather yourself and try again tomorrow. You’ll be okay. This isn’t the end of the world and you aren’t worth less.

earl grey:how do you take your tea?

lady grey:favourite outfit?

black tea: where are you from?

irish breakfast:what country do you want to visit?

turkish tea: where have you travelled?

white tea:occupation/career aspirations

rooiboos: 3 facts about my family

matcha: favourite book?

blooming tea: favourite flower?

chamomile:comfort movie?

peppermint:what’s your favourite holiday and why?

milk:do you have any allergies?

sugar:tell me about your first crush

honey:type out the last text you sent

ginger: favourite colour(s)?

green tea:where do you feel most at peace?

bubble tea:what ride would you pick at an amusement park?

mug:when/where do you normally drink tea?

teacup: last tea party?

teapot: music preference?

chai:what do you order at starbucks?

oolong: ideal romantic partner?

darjeeling: a hobby?

pu-erh: 3 random facts about myself

herbal:post a selfie

Finding safe online spiritual groups can be really tough.  Many that claim to be safe end up being unprepared to create a safe space, or what that requires. Toxic environments are often subtle. And it can be difficult to pin down which groups may be inadvertently creating a breeding ground for abuse instead of healthy growth.

AP&P Members who’ve had experience with spiritual abuse decided to put together a brief list of red flags to watch out for in Pagan groups.

🌬Use it to cleans the air and space in your room. Been sick? Let the air sweep the sickness away. Just had a bad anxiety attack? Fill your lungs with fresh air.

🌬Cleanse tarot decks, crystals, spell jars and any other witchy items with fresh air.

🌬Got old stubborn energy or haven’t been sleeping well? Let the chilly air sweep that away. Leave your window open a crack to help blow bad dreams away while you sleep

🌬Let the window blow sunlight or moonlight into your room. 

🌬Light a candle by an open window and whisper secrets or prayers of thanks to your home or your deities or the land around you. Let the wind carry your charged smoke to them.

🌬Give your plants a taste of outside again! Give them more things to suck up into their leaves and then put out later!

🌬It’s a nice way to clear out a stuffy room in all senses!

Real witches are witches that study and practise witchcraft. It doesn't matter whether your favourite colour is black or pink. It doesn't matter what gender you identify as.

I’ve been getting a lot of asks/messages lately from folks who want to practice Norse paganism and join the heathen community but are worried about white supremacist blogs. That’s totally valid - there’s a lot of them and some of them are well hidden under “aesthetic norse” blogs. So, I wrote up a little lists of indicators to look out for and avoid. Most of the runes and images(like Odin’s ravens) aren’t inherently racist/problematic and should be considered in context of the blog. Please keep in mind there are many more symbols and names/titles that could be included, I am just focusing on the Norse aspect from the USA.

Odinist/Wodenism/Wotanist - Oidinist is most often the term norse leaning white-supremacists lean towards. The term “Odinist” was first used as a self-descriptor by Alexander Rud Mills, an Australian Nazi sympathizer who founded an Odinist church in 1934. The name was carried on by Else Christensen and her Odinist Fellowship; Christensen’s newsletter, The Odinist, contained more far right-wing political content than religious content. If you go the official Odinists website(link) you will find they support many white-only groups like the Asatru Folk Assembly. The Holy Nation of Odin is a church that is run from a maximum-security cell in California and is only open to whites.

Volkish/Folkish -  Volksfront is a hybrid racist skinhead gang/neo-Nazi group that started in the Pacific Northwest in the 1990s. It’s still a very active group and only alt-right would really use this terminology.

“ —often termed “folkish” within the community—by viewing Heathenry as an ethnic or racial religion with inherent links to a Germanic race that should be reserved explicitly for people of Northern European descent or white people in general”. 

Not to be confused with folklorist/folklore heathens who practice heathenry because of Scandinavian folklore(i.e. disir, dwarves, etc.).

HH or 88 -  88 is a white supremacist numerical code for “Heil Hitler.” H is the eighth letter of the alphabet, so 88 = HH = Heil Hitler. One of the most common white supremacist symbols.

The number is frequently combined with another white supremacist numeric code, 14(shorthand for the so-called “14 Words” slogan: “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children”) in the form of 1488, 14/88, 14-88, or 8814. - ADL

Brosatru - I’m mostly adding this because it used to be a popular alt-right subreddit for “Asatru” practitioners that got removed. I’ve still seen it referenced in other pagan subreddits and some twitter profiles!

General keywords to look out for: heritage, ethnic, aryan, ethno-nationalism, nationalist, tribe

**Use reasonable doubt for runes and imagery**:

Othala. While not actually/originally a symbol of hate but a rune for family/ancestry, Othala has been desecrated by the alt-right regardless and should be judged by the context it’s seen in. It is frequently used in nazi marches, merch, and their websites. The U.S. National Socialist Movement replaced the swastika with the Old Norse Othala rune, which was previously used on an SS infantry flag in World War II. So if you see a blog with a red banner and a black Othala in the middle, just know it’s a replacement for the swatsika.

Algiz. Another Futhark rune misused, originally representing the Elk/Divine. It has been adapted by the far right as a “Life Rune”. Used in the “Free American Rally” and “National Alliance” and also used in the “Volksfront” logo. Like Othala it is used to replace the Swatsika in imagery where it’s illegal - it is  not used as frequently as Othala.

Huginn and Muninn. “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, VA featured two flags with Odinns ravens. Here’s the twist: some white supremacist groups claim the Raven flag was flown when Leif Erikson landed in North America in the year 1000 and thus is the “pure European: flag of the nation.” And for some white supremacists, according to David Perry of the University of Minnesota, “the concept of Vinland asserts a historical claim over North America, stretching from the northeast coast to the Pacific Northwest. They use the myth of Vinland to position themselves as righteous defenders in the wars of race and religion they believe are coming.” 

Valknut -  It is often considered a symbol of the Norse god Odin. Some white supremacists, particularly racist Odinists, have erased the meaning of the Valknot to use as a racist symbol. Often they use it as a sign that they are willing to give their life to Odin, generally in battle. It was also seen on many shields at the Charlottesville, VA march. Many pagans may also use this symbol, so one should carefully examine it in context rather .

Tiwaz. Another rune bastardized, originally a rune for the Norse god of justice Ty.r Free America Rally is a loosely-coordinated network of white supremacists who hold protests and rallies on white supremacist-related themes. The logo for Free America Rally is an amalgam of several runes(Algiz and Uruz).

Mjolnir. This feels horrible to say because I know countless pagans and Marvel fans with Mjolnir necklaces/tattoos. However, I have also encountered many alt-right accounts with a BFG(Bound for Glory) banner or icon.

Additionally, I would highly suggest going through their follows/likes if you can’t find an obvious answer. Most modern Norse pagans who aren’t anti alt-right make it known in their bios but you an do further digging if necessary. 

Let me start off by clarifying that these are the Norse holidays I personally celebrate and how I choose too. I have it split up into major holidays(holidays I try not to miss aka major holidays) and minor holidays(Smaller celebrations, I might not even celebrate these, etc.). This information will vary from person to person, you can celebrate whichever holidays however you want! Enjoy ~ 

✨Major✨

Jól

Jól otherwise known as Yule/Yuletide is a Nordic holiday celebrated between sundown on the Winter’s Solstice for a following twelve days(now you know where the Christians got it). It is also during Jól that the Wild Hunt takes place, Óðinn rides out with his dead, elves, or the dwarves may ride out across Midgard. Seeing the Hunt was thought to bring famine, plagues, and war but offerings of food and gifts could be left out for blessings and prosperity.  Jól was said to mark the return of Baldr from Helheim and the loosening of grip of winter of the Earth.

There numerous references to Jól in the sagas including Skáldskaparmál, Heimskringla, and poetry written by the skald Eyvindr Skáldaspilli which when translated reads:

“again we have produced Yule-being’s feast [mead of poetry], our rulers’ eulogy, like a bridge of masonry”. Most of these references testify to Jól being celebrated with blóts, feasting with family, drinking, gift giving, and dancing.

To be more specific, you can celebrate the twelve days of Jól by being hands on in your devotion! This was traditionally a time of year that was largely devoted to baking, finishing the mead making process, and hand making decorations and offerings to the heathen home and gods!! There was typically at least one julbord(feast) and an animal sacrafice. 

For example, straw animals in the shape of goats(Þórr), stars, boars(Freyr), horses, and ravens(Óðinn) were made and hung up around the house or a Jól tree! Yessss, that was something that German immigrants brought over to the U.S. The Jól tree was traditionally a tree outside that was decorated and offerings were left at in honor of Yggdrasil! You can also make wreaths, garlands, and woven rugs or wall hangings! 

The first night of Jól is typically called the Mothernight, this was in honor of the All Mother Frigg and the Disir. The first night(the longest night) is supposed to be symbolic to the rebirth of the world from winter. This is the perfect night to start on some weaving or crafts! Frigg is known for her weaving.

Disablót

Disablót was a sacrificial holiday(blót) in honor of the female deities, women, disir and valkyries. It’s purpose was to enhance the upcoming harvest and prepare the grounds for sowing. 

 It is mentioned in Hervarar saga, Víga-Glúms saga, Egils saga and the Heimskringla. This  celebration still lives on in the form of an annual fair called the Disting in Uppsala, Sweden(I really want to go to this). There’s a lot of debate to when the holiday was originally celebrated because the sagas all are slightly different. However, it is currently celebrated at the end of February by Sweden!

It was around this holiday that the first furrows were plowed in the fields and that there was a feast of new beginnings.

Nordic folk customs would include getting ready for the gardening season, preparing for the gardening/farming season ahead, and making a feast for your loved ones and female deities you work with.

Sigrblót

Sigrblót also known as Summer Finding or Ostara is the celebration of the spring equinox and welcoming good weather. It is a celebration of the rejuvenation of the earth, fertility, and growth.

This is a holiday often used to celebrate the Germanic god Ēostre, the embodiment of springtime and life, Iðunn, god of youth and renewal, and Frigg/Freyja, for their key elements in fertility magic. Is more commonly seen in modern days as a celebration of the renewal/awakening of the Earth(Jörð), the deities, and life. It is also a celebration to welcome joy and light into one’s life.

Nordic folk custom would include a large bonfire, smorgasbord(as always), baking sweets, and honoring the gods mentioned above or ones important to you this holiday.

Midsummer

Midsummer is probably the second biggest celebration next to Jól. It is pretty much just the celebration of the summer solstice and can also be celebrated in hopes of a good harvest at the end of fall. 

This holiday is attested to in the Ynglinga sagas and has long been a passed down celebration. Folk custom for celebrating would be large bonfires, speeches, smorgasbord, dancing around a majstång(traditionally for fertility), lots of drinking, and galdr. This is another holiday with a lot of hands on folk tradition; wreath making, kindling fires, making toy viking ships of wood and filling them with offerings to be burned, burning corn figures, adorning homes, halls, and the fields with fresh flowers and greenery.

A lot of of historians believe this is a particularly good time of year to make blessings to Baldr. This was also the time of year for sailing and war. With crops planted at home, vikings would set off to go to other lands. 

Freyrfeast

My favorite holiday!! There is no actual surviving name for this beast but it’s believed to be held around the star of August and most modern Norse pagans celebrate it on August 1st. The  Óláfs saga Tryggvasonar en mesta has an account of a priestess of Freyr traveling across Sweden at the start of winter with a picture of his god as a sacrifice for fertility and to honor him. Traditionally it’s a celebration of the first harvest where the primary god honored is Freyr with Sif and Þórr also celebrated as gods of harvest.

Traditionally the very first sheaf of grain harvested(I use my first bundle of lavender) is bound and blessed as an offering to the aforementioned deities and spirits of the field.

Folk customs include decorating the village well and springs, holding a grand feast of the gathered harvest, and baking a bread in honor of Freyr to give him at the end of and then plit among family. Preserving meats and vegetables was also done along this time of year and is a great time to start new batches of mead for upcoming  blóts.

Haustblót 

This is the celebration of the Autumn Equinox, the second harvest of the season, and when Norse folk would start preparing for winter by bringing livestock + stored food inside. It is referenced to in the Ynglinga sagas as well as the Eddas. It’s not as celebrated in modern times but farmers and agriculturalists still celebrate it and you can too!!

It is another joyous holiday celebrated with grand bonfires, large feasts, drinking, and dancing. It is believed that villagers would cast the bones of their slaughtered cattle on the flames to help them survive the winter.

There is a belief that once the village fire and all other fires were extinguished the families would go back their homes and light their hearth from the common village flame, bonding the community! I don’t know if this true but I’ve heard the story a few times and I honestly love the idea of it.

Vetrnætr/Álfablót

Otherwise known as Winters Night(or Samhain). This is the celebration of the last harvest, honoring of the landvættir, ancestors that protected the land through harvest, the vanir, paying respects to Death, and the welcoming of winter. Vetrnætr and Álfablót are celebrations of the same holiday but Álfablót is a blót that’s held privately in the home on the day of Vetrnætr.  

Similar to Freyrfeast, for Vetrnætr the last sheaf of wheat/grain was bundled up and blessed and often given as an offering to Óðinn and his dead setting out for the Wild Hunt. It was believed with the start of the Wild Hunt the dead could return to the places where they had lived and a large feast, celebration, and fire were commonly used in their honor. 

This was also a time for serious contemplation of death. To the Norse people, death was always around the corner and was viewed as a natural part of life. Death wasn’t viewed as negatively as it is in modern times but rather the Norse lived their lives in a way to live & die with honor, so their future ancestors would have something to celebrate on this day.

Álfablót in particular was typically run by a woman but we’re past gender norms now so whoever is comfortable running a ritual do it. It is a sacrifice to Freyr and the elves of Alfheim, in honor of the families ancestors, the life force of the family and the hearth, and is believed to also be a ritual for fertility. It is done the night of Vetrnætr.  

Minor

These are not necessarily minor, they are just not holidays that I always keep up on, don’t celebrate, days of remembrance, etc. There are definitely more Scandinavian holidays I’m not including because I’m not knowledgeable on them all and they’re not as widely celebrated(like celebrating Flag Day in America).

January 19 - Þorrablót is an Icelandic midwinter feast in honor of winter and Þorr which contains song, story telling, and traditional Icelandic foods like blóðmör and Brennivin. It is typically celebrated during Þorri February 2 - Barri is the celebration of the union between Freyr and Gerd and a celebration of fertility and the earth. February 9 - Remembrance for Eyvind Kinnrifi, he refused to convert to Christianity so Olaf Tryggvason tortured him to death. March 28 - Ragnar Lodbrok Day! Cheers to one the most legendary Vikings in history, King of Denmark and Sweden, and raider of Paris. April 31st-May 1st - Waluburgis Night, a celebration of the saint Valborg a nun who was the niece of Saint Boniface.  May 9 - Remembrance for Gudrod of Gudbrandsdal, whose tongue was cut out by the Norwegian king ‘St. Olaf’ for speaking out against the tyranny of the Christian Tryggvason, and urged others to resist him and continue worshiping the old gods.  May 20 - Frigg Blót! This actually a fave but it’s not really major so I’m keeping it down here. It’s a celebration of warmth and spring. Traditionally the time of year to go camping, hold a bonfire, and perform a blót for Frigg and honor her as the All Mother, pray for good blessings and health to those of your hearth. June 8 - Lindisfarne Day: It’s believe that on this day in 793 CE three Viking ships raided the Isle of Lindisfarne which is marked as the start of the Viking age. July 9 - From the Laxdaela Saga, it is a day of Remembrance for Unn the Deep Minded, she was well-known and respected cheiftan in Iceland. October 8 - Day of Remembrance for Erik the Red, founder of Greenland. October 14 - Vetrablót is a celebration of the harvest and honors Freyja as the god of fertility and honors the disir as well. November 11 - Feast of the Einherjar, a holiday where the fallen heroes of all the halls(Valhalla, Fensalir, etc.) are remembered. November 27 - Feast of the winter and hunt gods  Ullr and Skadi, also a day to celebrate Weyland one of the greatest Germanic craftsmen.

*inspired by Arthur, who always comes to Merlin’s rescue when he needs it* Needed: - The name of your friend written out on paper - A fireproof bowl or container - A lighter - A knife of some variety (preferably reflective and something you don’t eat off of) * A pot of dirt or a section of land were things are not being grown.

Steps: - Take all your supplies to a private place outdoors - Light the paper on fire and let it burn in the bowl. - While your paper is burning, run the flame quickly across the underside of your blade. - Look at your reflection in the blade if possible. - Speak/Think: “A friend of mine is in trouble, I have seen first hand their struggle, i offer here my blade, to show me the way to wade, through waters deep, and mountains steep, till i find the answer which i seek, and my friend and i may sleep.” - Rub ash down the length of your blade ( be sure that it is cool first!). - Plunge the blade tip down into soft dirt, so it stands on its own. (If you cannot do this outside, a jar or cup filled with dirt will work!) - If possible, leave the blade in the dirt until you find the answers you seek. If not take it with you, but set it aside and don’t use it until the spell has concluded.

I like to think of the energy around me as a pipeline, and sometimes pipes can get clogged up by build up over time. And just like a pipe that is clogged, it needs to be cleared out. Is this a weird analogy? I feel like it’s weird.

So when I use my decks a lot, and as a self proclaimed professional reader I use my cards quite often, energy can start to build up. It’s not alway as simple as negative energy or positive energy, it’s just energy.

I prefer to cleanse my decks before each reading I do for a client. When it comes to reading for myself I tend to stick to the same deck (my favorite Ostara Tarot) and I actually don’t cleanse it after every single reading. Mainly because the energy around my deck is my own and usually I find myself going back to my deck multiple times for the same situation or a continuation of the same situation or event. 

+ Smoke Cleansing & Blessing : I think this is the most popular method of cleansing because it’s simple, easy and gives visually confirmation that it’s working. Which makes it much easier to actually visualize (in your minds eye) the energy being cleansed and cleared.

You can use many different things for smoke cleansing but be sure to do the proper research to ensure you’re not appropriating any closed cultures or spiritual practices. I prefer to use incenses. They’re easy to obtain, smell pleasant and fairly cheap. Sage is also a popular choose but I personally am not a fan of the smell (gives me a headache unfortunately).

+ Sound Cleansing & Blessing : Using sounds is another way to cleanse energy or bless objects. Music, clapping, tapping, snapping, singing, speaking, a small little bell. All of those things will work just fine. The best part of this method is you literally just need you hands or voice.

I think the most popular way is a small bell. You could probably get one at your local thrift store (and a lot of the vintage ones are actually pretty cute). I like to chant sometimes to cleanse energy in my space before reading. I don’t think I’ve ever used sound to cleanse my cards directly but I have used to to cleanse and/or bless the space that I’m going to be reading in.

+ Moon Light : A full moon can bless and charge your cards but have you ever considered the moon light of a waning moon to cleanse and rid the energy from your decks? I’ve done this a couple of times but obviously it’s only doable for a short period of time and deck cleansing doesn’t always align with the moon phases. But it’s still a great idea.

On a side note, you can use the energy of a new moon to bless your deck with the energy of new beginnings and fresh starts (if you know you’ll be doing a reading related to that next). Or using the energy of the waxing moon to bless your deck with the energy of love and luck. 

+ Crystal Cleansing : If you recently had a particularly “bad” reading (or just something heavy, dark or shadowy) you might want to cleanse your deck with a black obsidian. If you’re just doing a general cleansing of energy consider using an amethyst or selenite.

Crystals can also be used to encourage certain energy during a tarot reading. Rose quartz would be beneficial to have close by during a relationship reading.  Angelite for readings where the person is seeking truth, You get the point lol.

Whether you use a physical book, a binder, or a digital documents folder, sometimes it can be hard to think of what to put into your Grimoire or Book of Shadows.

If you’re just starting your book, there’s lots of ideas you can include as the foundations of your work! What are they?

Contents Page

For the most organised individuals, it may be handy to keep a contents page going. Leave about three or four pages spare at the beginning to write in where to find certain content. After these four, number your pages!

About You

This could be one page or a few pages. You can include your favourite crystals or herbs, tarot cards you relate to, or why you came to witchcraft! You could also write about what it is you wish to gain or learn in your studies.

Correspondence Pages

These you can add more of any time in your book, but it’s a good idea to stay on top of this content. I tend to keep mine in digital format as opposed to my actual grimoire now because I ran out of time to record all my resources. This can be herbs you commonly use, crystals you own, etc. Write down what correspondences they have! Note if they’re water or sun safe for crystals, and if they’re edible for herbs.

Research

Whether it’s on what you use or who you work with, note down some interesting things you learn on the way, or why you’re drawn to them! Here you can even begin to record things you have learnt through divination, perhaps.

With those basics done, then what can you learn and put into your book? There’s honestly so many areas to study I won’t be able to go through all of them, but here’s some ideas!

Astrology

Numerology

Angel numbers

Cultural traditions you’re a part of

Knot magic

Tea magic

Herbal remedies

The history of crystals and their meanings

Historical eras you feel connected to

Local folklore

Local natural resources

Legends and ‘mythical’ creatures in magic (research on the fae!)

Different sigil methods

Types of spells

Common spell ingredients and why they’re used

Historical witch resources

Your own family tree and what it shows

Tarot spreads

Lunar phases

Astrological phases

Dream recording or symbolism

Animal symbolism and meaning

You can also use your book as a planner for when to do spells or a way of keeping notes on what happened after a spell. I would personally buy a diary planner for this work as well as astrological planning.

Now, whilst all these ideas are commonly known, I have some less thought of ideas also for you all.

Music You Resonate With

What songs inspire you to feel a certain way? Write about them! You can use them to invoke certain intents in the future, or look out for them as meanings to certain signs.

Manifestation Pages

These can be painted with herbs or colours corresponding to what you want to manifest and then be written on with chants, poetry or letters or the universe! It’ll be just like an extra creative diary.

A Moon Phase Emotion Diary

This will be better in a planner, but write down the moon phase and sign and then track how you felt that day. This can help you work out when to plan future spells or magical activities, or best prepare for days you don’t always feel of sorts.

Dream Plans and Goals

Design your dreams! This is a form of manifestation! Plot out how you’d have your garden, or what herbs you’d plant on your dream allotment. Commit to these goals by lovingly writing about them in your book and maybe one day they’ll happen.

Original Character Creation

Do you write about witchy or occult figures? Maybe you design fae? Include them in your book! Write about what colours and plants they relate to and how that affects their personality, or what beings they best get along with.

My sister Sarah, who has been visiting for a week, agreed to model some of the jewelry I have made. Thank you, Sarah, you’re so pretty! 💜❤💙

The entire collection can be found here: