Coffee, Magick, and Anime

The exact same way you figure out how any spell works and how to adapt it.

Look at the method of action, the materials used, the local lore regarding the ingredients and methods, and then compare them to spells with similar goals and to spells that use similar materials. Find the commonalities and figure out what exactly makes the spell work. Or just use a smidgen of creativity and figure out how to apply that technique to an area that’s actually useful to you like like making your neighbors sick.

As many of my followers will probably have guessed, I’m living with mental illness and I know a lot of you out there are too. If you’re anything like me, there are times when keeping up with devotions is just too much and I have to cut corners and simplify things if I manage them at all. So I thought I would compile a list of simple acts of worship that one can do: one list for low spoons days, and another for those days when even that is too much.

I can’t speak for all disorders and this is mainly with mental illness rather than physical illness in mind, since I and reasonably able bodied, so feel free to add your own ideas.

No Spoons Worship

Sometimes everything is difficult, your energy levels are at a minimum and simply existing is all you can manage. Now, if you’re like me during these periods you still feel guilty for not being able to continue with your religious practice as normal. Don’t beat yourself up over not doing rituals or offerings, it’s ok to stop altogether if you need to, but if you feel you need to do something for the gods but can’t manage anything extra, my advice is to include a devotional aspect to what you can manage:

Dedicate personal hygiene tasks to Hygeia; this can be mentally saluting her when you brush your teeth, or maybe muttering thanks in the shower. Even if all you’re up to is wet wipes and hand sanitiser, take a moment to thank her for making cleaning that bit easier

Thank Apollo or Askelpios for your meds, your doctor, your therapist, or whatever else helps you manage your health, even if it’s vitamin supplements, pain killers 

Thank Apollo and Dionysos for nice distractions like music, film, videos, games or any other media that keeps you happy. 

If you manage to cook a meal, take a moment to think of Hestia and thank her for your “hearth” (even if it’s a microwave or a kettle)

If leaving the house or travelling is difficult, ask for support for Hermes or thank him once you’re done

Little things like these don’t take any more effort but are a nice way to keep building kharis. The gods will appreciate that you’re still thinking of them. 

Low Spoons Worship

Have a bit more energy but rituals still too daunting? There are still plenty of ways to build kharis and care for yourself. Here are some of my favourites

Devotional colouring-in: got one of those fancy grown up colouring books? Dedicate the time you spend on stress-relieving low-intensity art to a god. I like to pick pictures that are fitting for the deity (sea-themed pictures for Poseidon, owls for Athena, flowers for Persephone, and so on). Don’t have any colouring books? Do a search for mythology colouring pages, find something you like and print (or if you don’t have a printer, load up MS Paint, photoshop or whatever your favourite digital art tool is!)

Light a candle! If you can’t have candles, fairy lights, LED lights or even a lamp can be an alternative. Dedicate the energy used by the light to a deity

Watch a video, documentary or film that you associate with a deity. For example, a music video could be an offering to Apollo or a documentary about the ancient world would be suitable for any deity you choose. One of my favourite things to do is watch adaptations of Greek mythology and critique what they get right and what they don’t. Stuck for ideas? Here’s a playlist of Jim Henson’s The Storyteller: Greek Myths to curl up with

Dedicate time reading to a deity (again you can pick a theme suitable for the deity or read about the ancient world or adaptations of myths)

Invite a deity to share in your meal if you manage to cook or you have a treat. You could set a place for them if you can, take a moment of thought before tucking in, or just thank them for providing for you

Dedicate a pampering session to Aphrodite. Whether it’s doing your nails, putting on makeup, or putting on a face pack mask, take time to thank her 

Household cleaning, hoovering, or tidying can be dedicated to Hestia

It’s the lazy bread I make out of just ice cream and self-rising flour but I added Imbolc Things~  

Ingredients:  - 2 Cups of vanilla dairy-free ice cream (I used almond milk ice cream)  - 1 ½ Cups of self-rising flour  - like,, 1/3 cup poppy seeds more or less?? I just dumped a bunch in there  - a little salt  - 1 tsp brown sugar  - Honey as a glaze 

Happy Imbolc everybody!

So, in honor of the holiday I’ve whipped up a simple spread celebrating self-introspection re: this annual transition.

Seed — This is what has been set into motion. It is as we speak putting down tiny brown roots in the soil. The Seed references the beginning of a new cycle. What exactly are you putting your energy into? Which forces move you on toward the flowering spring?

Frost — This is the obstacle. In growing, the frost first needs to be overcome. What needs to be detached from, trimmed back and cut away? The Frost is what is passing. It may melt away naturally with the coming Spring, but just as the butterfly, the flower still needs a little push in order to make it.

Bulb — Here we see the first vestiges of the seedling as it justs up toward the sky. The bulb may be awkward and undeveloped. Will the plant grow proud and tall or warp beneath the weight of its own ambition? Here, you can take inventory of what is needed post-frost in order to feel your full potential.

Bloom — Spring has sprung! These petals, whether fair or foul, are the consequence of both the work put in and the seed planted.

Imbolc helps us say farewell to the hibernation of winter and usher in the bountiful months of spring. I hope that this spread can help you determine what areas of your own lives are stagnant, and how to bring them back to life!

1. Frost: This position represents that which has frozen over in your life. Where do you see stagnation? In what ways have you become stuck?

2. Flame: This position symbolizes the spark that will help you usher in your productive season. What can help you move forward with your goals? What will thaw out your frozen motivation?

The Message.

a tarot spread for imbolc.

1. Darkness. The clutches of winter can be felt all around you. It penetrates down to your depths. Within this place of solitude, what secrets will you find hidden deep under the frozen waters?

2. The Vessel. You must be ready to deliver the message, to reveal the knowledge which was once unknown. You are the lantern, you are the light. In order to prepare yourself, you must be willing to let go of that which no longer serves you. What in your life do you need to let go of? What no longer serves you?

3. The Flame. This is your light, your time, your moment. Take back that which was lost. Take back the power you once had. Where do you need to focus your energy? What do you need to remember in order to be one with the light?

Mercury Retrogrades

February 16th - March 9th, beginning in Pisces and ending in Aquarius

June 17th - July 11th, beginning and ending in Cancer

October 13th - November 3rd, beginning in Scorpio and ending in Libra

Venus Retrograde

May 12th - June 24th, beginning and ending in Gemini

Mars Retrograde

September 9th - November 13th, beginning and ending in Aries

Jupiter Retrograde

May 14th - September 12th, beginning and ending in Capricorn

Saturn Retrograde

May 10th - September 28th, beginning in Aquarius and ending in Capricorn

Uranus Retrograde

August 14th - January 13th, 2021, beginning and ending in Taurus

Neptune Retrograde

June 22nd - November 28th, beginning and ending in Pisces

Pluto Retrograde

May you always be comfortable and warm with a full belly.

Oranges are associated with the sun for obvious reasons. The Hesperides, spirits of sunset and evening, tended to Hera’s golden apples.

When my grandmother was young oranges weren’t so easy to come by, and were often gifted to children as treats on Christmas day.

It’s also not uncommon to see oranges used in decorations for winter solstice festivals, in various traditions.

The Hellenic name for the solstice festival is Heliogenna. The birth of the sun. One traditional decoration is oranges sliced into solar discs and hung like so. They’ll air dry naturally over the next few days.

I sliced them and ran a needle and thread through them, unspooling thread as I pulled each one from the bunch. The ends of the oranges went into a pot of water with cinnamon and clove, which is currently steaming on the stove and the whole house smells like holiday desserts.

Non-Alcoholic  Mulled Wine for Yule

Y u l e is a time of great symbolism and power. It marks the return of the sun, when the days finally begin to get a little longer. Enjoy this hot heavenly drink with traditional Yule spices & help yourself to the delicious fruity remnants!

For the base I used hibiscus tea. If you want to substitute it, you can use various types of juice (apple, cherry, grape, pomegranate,  chokeberry, blackcurrant, etc) but make sure the juice is not too sweet. 

Ingredients: - Hibiscus Tea: 500 ml - Water: 500 ml - 1 Orange - 5 teaspoons of honey

Spices: - 1  cinnamon stick - 6-8 whole cloves  - Anise Star -2 stars Optional: nutmeg, ginger, or/and vanilla pods for extra sweetness in next year. 

If possible, try using cinnamon sticks, anise stars etc, rather then milled spices, if you don’t wan the ‘wine’ to look muddy.

Boil water in the kettle (I boiled 1 litre at once). Separate into two pots. I had hibiscus tea in tesbags, and i used four of them. Let the tea brew. Meanwhile, put another pot on the stove and add spices; let them have a nice one minute bath in the boiling water.

 Cut the orange, add it to the water with spices; pour in the tea. Add honey and stir until it is dissolved. 

Today is the day of Winter Solstice and I came up with a tarot/oracle spread for you. I will make it tonight, but it will also work for whatever time you celebrate Yule. It mixes past, present and possible future outcome.

The Star: Dreams and hopes for the future. What is the bricht light in your heart? What can you imagine for next year if there are no limits?

Shortest Day: This year must have brought you some good memories. What good did the year bring?

Longest Night: This year must have also brought some challenges. How did you overcome it?

Bring in the new: How can you make space in your life for all the positive changes?

Banish the old: How can you best get rid of all that no longer serves you?

Gifts you bring: You are a unique experience and you should celebrate all the gifts you share with this world. And I bet there are plenty. 

❅ this is a simple spell of purification and balance. 

❅  gather: a handful of snow, soot or ash, a jar, and pinebranch. 

❅ sweep up ashes/soot up into your hands, and brush them out the back door.

❅ rinse your hands of the ashes with the snow, handling it as it melts.

❅ collect the water that runs off in a jar.

Write sigils on the inside of wrapping paper (before you wrap your gift) for happiness/joy/etc.