Deranged Dollies

     In Native American mythology these birds are greatly respected. Some southwestern tribes believed the raven was a bringer of light that escaped from the darkness. They associated the raven with creation because it brought light where there was none. In other tribes the raven and crow were thought to be tricksters and the guardians of sacred and secret mysteries.                                                                                     

     Ravens are associated with psychic powers and their feathers can be used to aid the clairvoyance.    

     In Celtic mythology the Goddess Morrigahn often appears in the shape of a raven or crow or is accompanied by a group of them. If they are seen in a group of three it means that Morrigahn is watching or preparing to pay someone a visit. Because the Raven is Morrigahns bird some believed that the bird has special visionary powers.

     Western cultures believe that the raven or crow bring bad luck and death.    

     In Greek mythology Athena and Apollo kept ravens but turned them black when they couldn’t keep their secrets. Originally they had white feathers. The raven was said to be a method of divination. The aguars in ancient Greek used the colors of the ravens and and the direction of flight to interpret messages. 

     According to Welsh mythology the ravens were the hare bringers of death. They believed that witches and sorcerers would turn into ravens to avoid capture.    

     In Norse mythology Odin was represented with two ravens.      

     In parts of the Appalachian mountains, a low-flying group of crows means that illness is coming, but if a crow flies over a house and calls three times, that means an impending death in the family. If the crows call in the morning before the other birds get a chance to sing, it’s going to rain. Despite their role as messengers of doom and gloom, it’s bad luck to kill a crow. If you accidentally do so, you’re supposed to bury it but be sure to wear black when you do.

* This is an original spell of my own design from my BOS.*

Self Altar: Honouring Yourself

Uses:

This is an altar you make to honour yourself. It can be made depending on what your needs are. Use it to enhance self-esteem, self-love, and raise positive self-awareness. You can also use it to promote strength, healing, and positivity.  

Materials:

Things you can put on this altar can include (but not limited to);

- food & drink

- favorite teas/coffee

- recipes

- a special mug/cup

- flowers/plants (potted, fresh cut, dried, etc.)

- herbs (jarred, potted, fresh cut, dried, etc.)

- anything you like from nature (rocks, leaves, branches, petals, seeds, etc.)

- charged water, moon/rain water, gem elixirs

- books

- song lyrics (can be something you’ve written or by a musician you enjoy)

- poetry, quotes (again, something by you, by someone else whose work you enjoy)

- music (sheet music, CD’s, vinyl, tapes, concert tickets, anything to do with music you like)

- photos (from your life, of something you like, or a photo to represent something)

- candles, incense, perfume, lotion, etc.

- a favorite item of clothing

- jewelry

- any trinkets, odds & ends, objects

- crystals

- anything you use in your craft

- anything from your body (fingernails, eyelashes, blood, hair, etc.)

Basically anything that holds meaning to you or that you feel represents you or something you like.

Other Ideas:

- pictures of yourself that make you feel better about your appearance

- pictures of loved ones (or gifts from them, something that reminds you of them) to remind you that you aren’t alone and do have people that care about you

- a list of achievements or things you’re proud of

- a list of things you like about yourself

- a letter to yourself (must be positive and encouraging)

- mantras, positive and encouraging thoughts

- a written or typed & printed recount of an experience/memory that makes you feel good (should be a good, happy, or even funny memory, something that fills you up. Can be absolutely anything at all. Write it in as much detail you want and however you want; a guided meditation into the memory, a journal entry, just write down what you remember.)

How & When To Use It:

You can make this altar any time of year and change it as often as you wish. If it helps, construct it as you for anything/anyone else (deity, sabbat, a loved one). Consider what you would like to see if someone made an altar or left offerings for you. Whatever your reason is for making this altar, it will likely affect when it’s made and what is put on it.

Example: If you usually become depressed during the winter, you might make it right around the time it arrives. You might include crystals and herbs that help with depression, helpline numbers, photos of loved ones, positive thoughts or anything that comforts and cheers you up.

Another example could be: You make this altar with a focus on self-love and could include a list of things you like about yourself, rose quartz, a letter you write to you to read when you feel bad about yourself, positive affirmations, things you’ve done that you’re proud of, strengths you have, hobbies and talents, etc. 

The Crossroads are an infinitely powerful place – where the planes collide, the worldly nexus and the paths of decision. While always related to the actual crossing of roads, the symbolic nature of the Crossroads extends far beyond – even in the physical plane. The nexus include far more than the mere crossing of paths, but present at many – both naturally and made-made – destinations. Below you will find a (non-comprehensive) list and a brief description of how they apply to the Crossroads and what work might be done most efficiently at the particular junction.

Physical Crossroads

“X” and “T” Crossroads

This grouping includes the Crossroads in its traditional sense – as the crossing of roads in an “x” or “+” formation. These, of course, are well documented and are usually what is being discussed when talk of crossroads come up. These can be specified – for instance: a crossroad at the edge of town, in the woods, etc., all of which have their own, unique connotations. Their “sister” crossroads is the T crossroad (alt. “Y”) – which is still prevelantly known. These are my personal favorite, being an adherent to Quimbanda – these Crossroads are held sacred to Pomba Gira. They offer a more concise, selective and direct crossroads energy – as they only offer 3 roads, two choices, the forward option rendered entirely void. In this capacity, there is no option but to change. You cannot continue as you are, but instead must choose a new path – change at its greatest.

Bridges

These are much like the traditional crossroads, though there is a minor planar separation. As the water and the bridge never transect. In this capacity, you have a path or tangent that is not wholly present, but guiding. From above they appear to intersect, but from the ground we see they do not and cannot – though this doesn’t make them any less useful. It is at these places that change can be made fluidly. Where as the “T” crossroad is (arguably) the most severe, change-bring crossroad, this the the least so. As such, this one is not so much about bringing in the new, but freeing yourself of the old. Symbolically, spirits were always said to be unable to cross running water – in this case, there is a part of you that you feel needs to be relinquished, one you will not permit to cross the water with you. This is the cross of letting go of that which need be so.

Railroad-Track Crossings

Again, similar to the above to entries, these represent more traditional crossroads. These can be broken down into two, separate sets of places:

Where Tracks Cross a Road: These can be used as a symbol for a path that is fixed, continuous and unstoppable. The train will continue, it is your responsibility to stop. This can be a place to work rituals for motivation, drive and success – or alternately, to learn patience. Sometimes the only, real option is to sit and wait – there is strength in patience, these places might allow for this realization.

Where Tracks Cross Tracks: A recipe for disaster. Two, headstrong, unstopping forces are doomed to collide. While the former has the potential to grant motivation, this one is the reality of too much or counterproductiveness. These places are great for working curses that breed devastation, and chaos working from all sides. Place a penny at the junction, allow it to be flattened and collect it to use in particularly nasty curses.

Property Corners

That’s right, little did you know you had a Crossroads (literally) in your own backyard! At each of the corners of your property, where four plots meet, there is a crossroads. These, naturally, are best used for things relating to the home – protection, finance, martial issues, health and well-being. Probably not the best to use these to call up Crossroads Spirits or make any Faustian Deals. 

Cemeteries

The liminal space of the dead on the plane of the living – these are the sites where the dead interact (in great number) energetically with our plane, building a nexus of sorts. Naturally the larger the cemetery, the more effective this nexus becomes (here’s looking at you, New Orleans). It’s not enough that they exist spiritual in one place, but its that they exist as both physically and spiritual distinct in the location – their spirit and body exist, but no longer bound, working in a sort of intersecting movement. To no one’s surprise, these are the places most fitting work with the Dead, bridging the planes, communion with the spirits, etc. It’s also little surprise that many Cemetery Spirits have numerous correlations to their Crossroads counterparts.

Churches

That’s right, churches, too are liminal spaces – wherein the Divine (of which ever sort) ground to the earth and form a crossroads. These are obviously most fitting religious works – divine paths, orchestrating change with the help of the Divine, resolution to crises of faith, etc. As for curses go, these same qualities can also be harness to bring about crises of faith and repurpose the energies for more malignant works. 

Metaphorical Intersections

Doorways

While at first thought, one might assume that doorways would be much like a “T” crossroad of not more severe – as there is but one path that may be taken. This, however, symbolically is not the case. While we know a closed door will always open to the same place here, spiritually that’s never a guarantee. In fact, doors have the capacity to connect all things. One door may lead to any other. But be warned, doors  go both ways – be careful where it leads, for it will also lead back.

Hands/Feet and Mouth/Ears

Hands and feet are the intersection of the mind and the physical. It is they who move us, connect us, or create from our mind something on this plane – such as art, writing, gesture. Mouths bridge mind to mind through verbal communication – what the mouth sends, the ear receives and the mind interprets. As such, all of these things occupy a sort of liminal space.

Cosmic/Season Crossroads

Twilight

Twilight is the bridge from day to night, a time of change – a commingling of both of their characteristics. Depending on what you seek, these can be used as a way to gain insight. For illumination, enlightenment utilize dawn – allow the sun to bring light to the darkness. For understanding, self discovery or occult knowledge, use dusk – wherein the preconceived notions of day fall away to reveal the hidden truths of night.

Midnight

The minute when one day ends and the next begins – colloquially referred to as “the witching hour,” it is a time between time. This can be used for many works – though, when I utilize midnight, I use mid-night. The time at the middle of when the sun sets and rises – the darkest part of night, when it is at its strongest, after is has waxed, but before it has waned.

31st day

Like Twilight and Midnight, this is time related – a place between months, a time for change. These can be utilized much like more regular New Years: a time to make resolutions, enact change and bring anew/cast out the old. As such, they’re good for exorcisms and rebirth.

There are countless other options, but I chose to note the ones I’ve been known to use. I’d love to hear and see what some of all know to be unconventional crossroads!

General:

Basic Elements of Energy Work

Choosing Your Energies

Energetic Blockages

Energy Clearing and Infusing

Energy Feeds and Magic Fatigue and A Clarification

Energy for Beginners Part I and Energy for Beginners Part II: Gathering, Raising, Storing, and Casting

Energy Work and the Chakras

Energy Work Masterpost

An Energy Work Primer (You Don’t Have to “Feel” Anything)

Protect Your Energy

Sensation & Direction - A Beginner’s Guide to Energy Work

Tired After Energy Work?

Types of Energy: Air / Airy Correspondences | Earth / Earthy Correspondences | Fire / Fiery Correspondences | Water / Watery Correspondences | Practical Elemental Work

Visualization:

Different Kinds of Visualization

Having Trouble Visualizing?

How to Visualize

Magical Visualization - Some Basics

Mistakes I Made with Visualization

Simple Visualization Exercises

Using Your Intent (an ask)

Charging / Enchanting:

Charging 101: The Quick Basics

Charging an Object

Charging and Dedicating Stones and Crystals

Charging Objects

Enchanting Things with Touch

Witch’s Guide to Charging

Witch’s tl;dr Guide to Charging

Witch’s Guide to Programming

Witch’s tl;dr Guide to Programming

Energy Manipulation / Exercises:

Animist Reset Ritual

Banishing the Energies of Others

Beginner Energy Manipulation Resource List

Channeling Energy to Work Magic

Competitive Magic

Dispelling the Notion of “Bad” Energy and Learning a New Way to Recycle

Energy Manipulation: Aura Shaping

Energy Manipulation: God Energies

Energy Manipulation: People and their Elements Part I and Part II

Energy Manipulation: Polarization Habits (Don’t Make You a Bad Person), and How to Break Them

Energy Manipulation Element Series: Air | Air/Fire | Earth | Earth/Fire | Earth/Water | Fire | Water | Element Posts F.A.Q.s

Energy Practice

Energy Work: Expansion vs. Contraction

Energy Work - Distance Charging

Energy Work - Elemental Nails

Energy Work - Energetic Check

Energy Work - Energy Ball

Energy Work - Energy Cannonball

Energy Work - Texting Predictions

Energy Work - Tree in a Jar

Energy Work and Making Contact

The Fluffy Pillar and the Spheres

Harnessing Sex Energy

How to Energetically Cleanse an Item

How to Send Energy to Other People

Let’s Talk Basics: Directing Energy

Method of Remote Viewing

Personal Energy Cleanse

Reflecting Negativity

Scream Jars

Sensing Energy Exercise 

Shielding / Warding:

Altering Shields

Badass Things to Inspire Shields

Checking and Repairing Shields

Energy Warding

Energy Work: Shielding

Forming a Basic Shield - Creation and Sealing

Fun with Auras (aka, Shielding)

How to Undo Shields

Magically Making Friends - Reforging Your Protections

Personal Shielding

Removing and Deactivating Shields

Shielding/Transmuting and the Solar Plexus Chakra

Shielding & Aura Manipulation

Shielding and its Purpose

Shielding for General Protection

Shielding for Specific Protection

Shielding vs Aura Manipulation

Stacking Shields

Stealth Shielding

Transmuting Energy: An Alternative to Shielding

Two-Sided Shielding

Using External Power to Shield

Witch’s tl;dr Guide to Shielding

Grounding:

Airy Grounding Guide

Beach Surf Grounding

Gale Grounding

Grounding

Grounding

Grounding (Energy Work Series Part 1)

Grounding and the Root Chakra

Grounding or ‘Earthing’

Grounding Techniques

Grounding Theory and Application

Grounding via Aura

Grounding with Pasta

How Do I “Ground”?

Notes on Being Grounded

Release Grounding

Sea Witchcraft: “Sinking”

Witch’s Guide to Grounding

Witch’s Guide to Grounding - Sturdy as Stone

Witch’s tl;dr Guide to Grounding

Centering:

Centering and Grounding

Energy Manipulation 101: Grounding and Centering, or That Thing Everyone/Book Says to Do But Never Really Explains Why…

Grounding and Centering

Witch’s Guide to Centering

Witch’s Guide to Centering - Crystal Gem Fusion Dance

Witch’s tl;dr Guide to Centering

Thoughtforms:

A Bit on Entities and Thoughtforms

Creating a Physical Vessel for Your Thoughtform to Live In

Creating a Thoughtform

Creating Positive Thought Forms

Destroying Your Thoughtform

An Exercise to Help with Creating Mental Spaces for Thoughtforms

An Exercise to Help with Creating Thoughtforms

Have Your Thoughtform Go to Work

Keeping Track of Your Thought-Forms

Letting Your Thoughtform Die, Dealing with Thoughtform Injuries

Projecting Your Thoughtform

A Short Guide to Thouhtforms

Technowitchcraft - Thoughtforms

Thoughs on Thoughtforms

Watching Your Thoughtform Grow

What is a Thoughtform?

Haunting Landscape Photography Inspired by the Brothers Grimm Fairytales by Kilian Schönberger