TheGreenDesertWitch

A simple recipe for elderberry syrup!

What you need:

1 cup blue/black elderberries.

3 cups water.

2 TBS ginger root (fresh/dried).

1 TSP cinnamon powder.

½ TSP cloves/clove powder.

1 cup honey.

Optional: tea bags for spices, makes straining easier.

Pour water into saucepan, add berries and spices.

Bring to boil, then cover and reduce to simmer for 45 minutes, or longer for stronger flavor.

Remove from heat, let it cool until it’s lukewarm. Pour through strainer into container.

*Can be frozen at this stage* or:

Add 1 cup of honey per 1 cup of liquid. Cannot be frozen now, keep refridgerated.

Basil (Ocimum basilicum)

Folk Names: Albahaca, American Dittany, “Our Herb,” St. Joseph’s Wort, Sweet Basil, Witches Herb, Njilika, Balanoi, Feslien

Gender: Masculine

Planet: Mars

Element: Fire

Deities: Vishnu, Erzulie

Powers: Love, Exorcism, Wealth, Flying, Protection

Magical Uses: The scent of fresh basil causes sympathy between two people, and this is why it is used to sooth tempers between lovers. It is added to love incenses and sachets, and the fresh leaves are rubbed agains the skin as a kind of natural love perfume. In Eastern Europe it was once thought that a young man would love any woman from whose hand he accepted a sprig of basil. 

Basil is also used in love divinations. Place two fresh basil leaves upon a live coal. If they lie where you put them and burn quickly to ashes, the marriage (or relationship) will be harmonious. If there is a certain amount of crackling the life of the pair will be disturbed by quarrels. If the leaves fly apart with fierce crackling the projected relationship is undesirable. 

Do you want to know if someone is chaste or promiscuous? Simply lay a sprig of fresh basil on their hand. It will immediately wither if that person is “light of love.”

Basil brings wealth to those who carry it in their pockets, and is used to attract customers to a place of business by placing some in the cash register or on the doorsill. 

Basil is strewn onto floors, because where it is, no evil can live. It is also used in exorcism incenses and in purification baths. Small amounts are sometimes placed in each room of the house to bring protection.

Witches were said to drink about ½ cup of basil juice before flying off into the air.

Basil given as a gift brings good luck to a new home.

Lapiscat’s herbal 101   

I promised it, and finally, here it is. Feel free to submit any questions to my asks!! Since i know some people don’t agree with the use of “dark” magic… I include these intentions for the people who do, and no hate will be tolerated at all. you will be bLoCkEd girl. Not on my blog, not today.

 I’ve gathered this information over some time, and like on my songs&chants post, if you’d like to know the details on an exact source ask/message me! I’ll look through my books and let you know within 1-2 days. 

this is gonna be a long one its like 3 pages from my grimoire. DISCLAIMER; This is all information i have personally collected over time from studies and personal experience. it is by no means complete, there are many correspondences to each plant.

Contents:

Plants by Intent

Gardening by the Moon

Gardening by the Signs

A-Z Plant/Herb Correspondences 

Herb/Plants by Intent

Balance: basil, chamomile, comfrey, mullein, nettle, woodruff

Blessing: chamomile, dianthus, elder flowers, fennel, mint, oats, rosemary, rue, vervain

Cleansing/Purification: avens, betony, benzion, burdock, hyssop, clove, lavender, mistletoe, mugwort, rosemary, wormwood, yarrow

Consecration: acacia, anise, basil ,clover, dragons blood, hyssop, lavender, nettle, rue, sunflower, vervain

Courage: basil, borage, mullein, rosemary, thyme

Creativity: anise seed, basil, catnip, hawthorn, lavender, St Johnswort, vervain

Divination: basil, bay, cinquefoil, clover, damiana, dittany of crete, eyebright, honeysuckle, hops, lavender, marigold, moonwort, mugwort, mullein, orange peel, rowan, thyme, vervain, woodruff, woodworm, yarrow

Energy/Power/Strength- cinquefoil, dragon’s blood, elder flower, ginger root, fennel, St Johns Wort, vervain, woodruff 

Fortune/Justice: bay, bergamot, cinquefoil, lemon balm, orange peel, star anise

Happiness/Peace: fennel, lavender, rosemary, vervain, yarrow

Healing: cinquefoil, comfrey, coriander, hops, lavender, lemon balm, mullein, mustard, rosemary, rue, sage, tansy, thyme

Love: apple, avens, basil, cardamom, catnip, dill flowers, elm, marigold, marjoram, mustard seed, rose, red heather, vetivert, willow

Protection: betony, birch, burdock, cumin, dianthus, dill leaves, fennel, fern, marjoram, mint, mugwort, mustard, parsley, sage, white heather, wormwood, black pepper

Psychic Awareness: bay, cinnamon, elderflower, mugwort, mullein, basil, star anise

wisdom: elder, sage, willow, almond

Curses: cypress, dragon’s blood, wormwood, rowan wood, arrowroot.

Crone, Dark Moon, Death/Passages, Otherworld, Underworld: Absinthe, acacia, anise, apple, ash leaves/berries, dittany of crete, elder, myrrh, black currant, blackberries, pomegranate, valerian, woodruff, willow

Gardening by the Moon

New-1st Quarter: Plant flowers, Annuals, Above ground crops, crops with seeds outside

1st Quarter-Full: Plant above ground crops with seeds inside

Full-Last Quarter: Plant root crops, Bulbs, Perennials

Last Quarter-New: Don’t plant anything, Reap crops, Sing to plants

Gardening by the Signs

Moon in Aries: Gather/Store herbs/roots, Prune to reduce growth

Moon in Taurus: Plant root crops

Moon in Gemini: Harvest herbs/roots

Moon in Cancer: Plant leafy things, Plant above ground fruit 

Moon in Leo: kill weeds, cultivate/till

Moon in Virgo: plow, till, weed

Moon in Libra: Plant flowers and vines

Moon in Scorpio: Prune to encourage growth

Moon in Sagittarius: Prune to stop growth

Moon in Capricorn: prune to strengthen bulbs, roots, stalks growing

Moon in Aquarius: reap crops/herbs/roots, ground cultivation

Moon in Pisces: plant roots

Herbal A-Z

Acacia- Altar consecration, aids in psychic powers, meditation

Agrimony- protection, returns spells to sender, promotes sleep

Alder- Whistles entice the Elemental Air, Fairy Invocations

Allspice- prosperity, energy

Anise- purify/consecrate, protection, spirit aid in spells, divination, aids creativity

Apple- food for departing spirits, love, health, underworld

Ash- Wands, Protection, Leaves for prophetic dreams, prosperity

Avens- Purification, love, protection from negative energies 

Banana (Leaf/Flower)- Fertility, prosperity, Goddess and God as one divinity

Basil- Protection, courage,  wealth, love, protection, divination, creativity, repels negativity

Bay- psychic powers, purification, wishes, divination, justice, wisdom

Belladonna (Deadly Nightshade) (TOXIC)- Samhain, astral travel, psychics power, visions

Birch- wands, protection, purification, ward negativity, cleansing, the goddess 

Cardamom- love, romance

Carnation (Dianthus)- protection, strength, healing

Chamomile- Meditation, rest, calmness, purification, prosperity

Cinnamon- Spiritual, Psychic tool, protection, healing

Clove- Wealth, Purification, cleansing

Comfrey- Healing, Safe travel

Cornflower- Psychic Ability

Damiana- Divination, the goddess

Dill- Money, protection, love

Dittany of Crete- Divination, Psychic power

Dragons Blood- Consecration, Power, Life cycle, changes

Elder- wands, fairies, blessings (never burn the wood), magic power

Elm- Elves, Love

Eyebright- Aiding mental powers, divination

Fennel- Protection, the God, Deflect negative energies

Ferns- protection, wisdom, calling rain

Foxglove (TOXIC)- Grown to protect the house, source of digitalis

Frankincense- Blessing, Spirituality, Meditation, Power, Kepu 

Garlic- Protection, power

Ginger- love, success, money, power

Hawthorn- wands, fertility, protection, creativity/witchery skills

Heather- Red: Love White:protection Purple:spiritual development, beauty

Henbane (TOXIC): Underworld, Spirit contact

Hemlock (TOXIC): Power, Purification, protection, astral travel

Holly (TOXIC)- Balance, Dream magick, winter

Honeysuckle- Divination, dreams

Hyssop- Purification, Cleansing spiritual tools, Lifts spiritual vibrations

Jimsonweed (Datura) (TOXIC)- deflection, return-to-sender, ward negativity, protection

Iris- Wisdom

Ivy- Protection, friendship, healing, perseverance, friendship

Kelp- winds, protection, psychic

Lavender- Elves, purification, love, healing, dreams, psychic awareness

Lemon Balm- Success, health, love, justice, good luck

Lilac- Protecton, Underworld, otherworld, beauty, love 

Mandrake (TOXIC)- Calling on spirits, Spirit communication, offering, exorcism, protective watcher

Marigold- marriage, psychic powers, clairvoyant dreams

Marjoram- Love, Protection, Wealth

Mint- Protection, Prosperity

Mistletoe (TOXIC)- fertility, consecration, healing

Motherwort- Confidence, wards negative energies, imagination

Moonwort- Divination, love, prosperity

Mugwort- Divination, Consecration, Strength, Protection

Mullein- Protection, purification, divination

Mustard-good luck, health, protection, fertility

Myrrh- protection, ward negativity, purification/consecration

Nettle- Elves, fairies, consecration, restore balance, protection

Oak- Wands, purification, money, health, fertility

Oats- wealth, security, offering

Orange peel- Love, good fortune, divination

Parsley- purification, protection 

Pecan- Prosperity, Abundance

Pepper- Protection, ward negativity

Pine- Cleansing, money, courage

Rose- love, self love, beauty

Rosemary- blessing, protection, remembrance, love, health, ancestors

Rue (TOXIC)- blessing, consecration, protection, health, ward negative energy

Sage- protection, purification, health, wisdom

St Johns Wort- Good health, willpower, enhance creativity, banish negativity

Solomons Seal (Dropberry, Sealroot)- Elemental offering, Protection

Star anise- Psychic power, Protection

Sunflower- Consecration, Bright aspects, Sun

Tansy- Health, happiness 

Thyme- courage, healing, psychic poor, swift action

Vervain- Offering love, purification, riches, creativity, ward psychic attack, visions

Willow- Wands, divination, love, protection, the Goddess

Wormwood (Absinthe) (TOXIC)- evocation, divination, scrying, protection

Yarrow- Divination, Love, Happy Marriage, Defense, protection

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.

Rainwater 

Rain from a lightening storm

this has the greatest energy

used in a bath to re-energize your being and aid in a ritual of clearing and cleansing your energies of negativity by soaking in it

used to clear and cleanse an object or area 

store in a white glass bottle

Rain from thunderstorms, tornadoes or hurricanes

Used to empower spells for moving things forward such as letting go of the past and moving forward in life

used to help move a project forward and get beyond current blocks in life

used to change a pattern or habit you don’t like

store in a blue glass bottle

Sun and Rain

Used to balance energies when feeling weighed down

helps gather your thoughts when they are flighty and scattered

store in a dark green bottle

Hail storm

collect in a metal bowl but dont let it sit in the bowl for more than 6 hours

allow the hail to melt before bottling it

store in a black or dark brown bottle

used to dispel psychic attacks or negative energies

best used for black magic to get rid of your enemies or negative forces that stand in your way

Spring Rain

used to empower new ventures such as new relationships, new business ventures, a new job

rain collected on the spring equinox or the first rain after the spring equinox is good for empowering spells for relationships

stored in a light green bottle

Summer Rain

used to encourage growth whether it be personal, spiritual growth or growth of a business venture or relationship

used to break bad habits

great to water indoor plants

rain collected on mid-summers eve and day is especially mystical

store in a sky blue bottle

Fall Rain

used for giving thanks and showing gratitude for the abundance the year has given you

store in an orange or fall colored bottle

Winter Rain

can be used for blessing a person, relationship, family or object

can be used to bless an event such as a birth, wedding or new business venture

to be able to survive the hardships of winter one is able to survive the hardships of life

Full Moon Rain

Used to honor the Goddess

a small glass can be added to a cleansing bath

add a couple of drops to your bath before an important event or ritual

used for a blessing during a full moon ritual

used for blessing a child or pet 

rain collected during the full moon according to that season will have the energies of that moon according to month and season

clean altar spaces and other things by putting an ounce of rain water into your cleaning products

also very good for divination

Waning Moon Rain

good for getting rid of things, banishings, and purging negative energies

used like a banishing oil

also can be added to your bath for relaxation, clarity or promoting self love

use to prepare for lunar rituals

anoint your money with it to increase your wealth 

anoint yourself to increase your psychic awareness

New Moon Rain

good for workings in which something needs to be brought in 

used when starting a new project

Waxing Moon Rain

used to bring in good energies and blessing

used at the start of a new project or a new beginning

Rain collected from trees or roses will have different energies depending on the type of tree or color of the rose you collect it from

Use 1 cup of rain water to 1 tub size of water

For rituals use 1oz of rain water in a glass bowl or cauldron, to add effects to the water pour over crystals energized with your intent

For a spell place all your spell items in your bowl or cauldron and add 1tablespoon of rainwater

For cleansing or anointing ritual take 1/2oz of rainwater into a glass bowl and as you recite your incantation dip your fingers or wand/athame into the water then mark your physical body, the mark can be any spiritual symbol that has meaning to you

To anoint a tool, pout 1oz of rainwater onto the tool as you state your incantation to empower the tool for its intended purpose.

@autumnwitchesx i hope this helps you some!!!

Me: *mentions @ihaileysenpai*

Mom: Is she a friend at school?

Me: Uh…. no…. but-

Mom: So you’re talking to someone you don’t even know? What if she’s an old man?

Me: WTF Mom. She’s already mentioned many times that she’s obviously NOT an old man, and I’ve heard her voice. *plays one of her awesome vids* I don’t think an old man would sound like that.

Mom: Well… Still. Be careful out there. And no matter what, don’t try to meet these people in person.

Me: You do realize that the people I’m talking about help warn others of those kind of people? They aren’t evil old men. They’re artists. I just don’t get why you won’t let go of the fact that they aren’t freaking pedophiles messed up people! They’re actually really nice!

Meanwhile, dad was super chill and had a full on conversation with them. Although he did want to make sure, he didn’t need to know all of their history. He just wanted to know if they were my age and if they were cool - which they are. And, the only reason he even asked about talking to them on the phone is because I was already talking to them and had brought them up a few times before.

Also my lovely @pianistjohnny @freckled-homeo @yovngho-ya @veroshi0704 @myexhaustedheart @sophonyhumanrage @nctplz @blueberrytier

ASTROLOGY is divination using celestial bodies: the sun, moon, planets, and stars.

CARTOMANCY is fortune telling using cards such as the Tarot.

CLAIRAUDIENCE is “clear hearing” of divinatory information. Parapsychologist generally regard as a form of extrasensory perception.

CLAIRVOYANCE is “clear seeing” of divinatory information. Parapsychologist generally regard as a form of extrasensory perception.

CRYSTALLOMANCY is divination through crystal gazing.

DOWSING or DIVINING RODS are methods of divination where a forked stick is used to locate water or precious minerals.

NUMEROLOGY is the numerical interpretation of numbers, dates, and the number value of letters.

OCULOMANCY is divination from a person’s eye.

PALMISTRY is the broad field of divination and interpretation of the lines and structure of the hand.

PRECOGNITION in an inner knowledge or sense of future events.

PSYCHOMETRY is the faculty of gaining impressions from a physical object and its history.

RADIESTHESIA is the general term for divination using a device such as a divining rod or pendulum. Other forms include “table tipping” which was practiced at the White House in the 19th century, the Ouija board, automatic writing (or superconscious writing), and scrying.

SCIOMANCY is divination using a spirit guide, a method generally employed by chanelers.

SCRYING is a general term for divination using a crystal, mirrors, bowls of water, ink, or flames to induce visions.

TASSEOGRAPHY is the reading of tea leaves that remain in a tea cup once the beverage has been drunk.

Uncommon Types of Divination

AEROMANCY divination from the air and sky, particularly concentrating on cloud shapes, comets, and other phenomena not normally visible in the heavens.

ALECTRYOMANCY is divination whereby a bird is allowed to pick corn grains from a circle of letters. A variation is to recite letters of the alphabet noting those at which a cock crows.

ALEUROMANCY is divination using “fortune cookies”; answers to questions are rolled into balls of dough and once baked are chosen at random.

ALOMANCY is divination by table salt.

ALPHITOMANCY uses special cakes that are digestible by persons with a clear conscience but are unpleasant to others.

ANTHROPOMANCY is the long-outlawed means of divination by human sacrifice.

APANTOMANCY is divination through chance meetings with animals (e.g., a black cat), birds, and other creatures. Mexico City is said to have been founded where Aztec soothsayers saw an eagle flying from a cactus carrying a live snake.

ARITHMANCY or ARITHMOMANCY is an earlier form of NUMEROLOGY where divination is made through numbers and the number value of letters.

ASTRAGLOMANCY or ASTRAGYROMANCY is a form of divination by dice where the faces of the dice bear numbers and letters.

AUGURY is the general term for the art of divination and is chiefly applied to interpretations of signs and omens.

AUSTROMANCY is divination by the study of the winds.

AXIOMANCY is divination through the observation of how an ax or hatchet quivers or points when driven into post.

BELOMANCY is an ancient form of divination performed by tossing or balancing arrows.

BIBLIOMANCY involves divination by books.

BOTANOMANCY is divination from burning tree branches and leaves.

BUMPOLOGY strictly a modern term, a popular nickname for PHRENOLOGY

CAPNOMANCY is the study of smoke rising from a fire.

CATOPTROMANCY is an early form of crystal gazing that utilizes a mirror turned to the moon to catch moonbeams.

CAUSIMOMANCY is divination from behavior of objects placed in a fire.

CEPHALOMANCY refers to divination with the skull or head of a donkey or goat.

CERAUNOSCOPY seeks to draw omens from the study of thunder and lightning.

CEROSCOPY, CEROMANCY is a form of fortune telling in which melted was is poured into cold water.

CHIROMANCY is divination from the lines on people’s hands.

CHIROGNOMY is the study of the general hand formation.

CLEROMANCY is divination by “casting lots”, similar to dice but with objects such as pebbles or sea shells.

CLIDOMANCY or CLEIDOMANCY is divination using a dangling key. see RADIESTHESIA.

COSCINOMANCY is divination using a hanging sieve. see RADIESTHESIA.

CRITOMANCY is the study of barley cakes.

CROMNIOMANCY is divination using onion sprouts.

CYCLOMANCY is the practice of divination from a turning wheel.

DACTYLOMANCY is an early form of RADIESTHESIA using a dangling ring.

DAPHNOMANCY requires one to listen to laurel branches crackling in an open fire.

DEMONOMANCY is divination with the aid of demons.

DENDROMANCY is divination with either oak or mistletoe.

GASTROMANCY is an ancient form of ventriloquism whereby the voice is lowered to a sepulchral tone and prophetic utterances are delivered in a trance state.

GELOSCOPY is the divination from the tone of someone’s laughter.

GENETHLIALOGY is divination by the influence of the stars at birth.

GEOMANCY is the study of figures on the ground and the influence of the Earth’s “currents”.

GRAPHOLOGY is the analysis of character through handwriting.

GYROMANCY is a divination procedure where a person walks in a circle marked with letters until they become dizzy and stumble at different points, thus spelling out a prophesy.

HALOLMANCY see ALOMANCY

HARUSPICATION is fortune-telling by means of inspecting the entrails of animals, as practiced by priests in ancient Rome.

HIEROMANCY or HIERSCOPY is divination by observing object of ancient sacrifice.

HIPPOMANCY is a form of divination from the stamping and neighing of horses.

HOROSCOPY is the practice of casting of astrological horoscopes.

HYDROMANCY is divination by water including the color, ebb and flow, or ripples produced by pebbles dropped in a pool.

ICHTHYOMANCY is divination using fish.

LAMPADOMANCY is divination using lights or torches.

LECANOMANCY uses a basin of water for divination.

LIBANOMANCY is the study of incense and its smoke.

LITHOMANCY is divination using precious stones of various colors.

MARGARITOMANCY is the procedure of using bouncing pearls.

METAGNOMY is the divination using “visions” received in a trance state.

METEOROMANCY is divination from meteors.

METOPOSCOPY is the reading of character using the lines if the forehead.

MOLEOSOPHY is the study of moles and indicators of a person’s character and future indications.

MOLYBDOMANCY draws mystic inferences from the hissing of molten lead.

MYOMANCY is the study of the prophetic meaning of behavior of rats and mice.

OINOMANCY is divination using wine.

OMPHALOMANCY is counting the number of knots in the umbilical cord to predict how many more children the mother will have.

ONEIROMANCY is the interpretation of dreams and their prophetic nature.

ONOMANCY is the study of the meaning of names.

ONOMANTICS is the application of ONOMANCY applied to personal names, particularly in the sense of occult interpretation.

ONYCHOMANCY is the study of fingernails.

OOMANTIA and OOSCOPY is the method of divination by eggs.

OPHIOMANCY is divination from serpents.

ORNISCOPY and ORINITHOMANCY is the study of omens associated with birds, particularly birds in flight. see APANTOMANCY

OVOMANCY is another type of egg divination.

PEGOMANCY concerns itself with spring water and bubbling fountains and the omens contained therein.

PHRENOLOGY is the long practiced study of head formations.

PHYLLORHODOMANCY is a means of divination whereby one slaps a rose petal against the hand and judges the favorability of the omen by the loudness of the sound.

PHYSIOGNOMY is the study of character analysis through physical features.

PSYCHOGRAPHY is a form of mysterious writing having a divinatory nature.

PYROMANCY and PYROSCOPY are forms of divination by fire or flame, often assisted by substances thrown onto the flames.

RHABDOMANCY is divination using a stick or wand. These methods were forerunners of the divining rod.

RHAPSODOMANCY is a means of divination using a book of poetry whereby the book is opened at random and a passage read.

SIDEROMANCY is the burning of straws with a hot iron, the resulting figures having divinatory properties.

SORTILEGE is the casting of lots and the assessment of omens indicated.

SPODOMANCY is divination using cinders or soot.

STICHOMANCY is another form of throwing open a book and selecting a random passage for the purpose of divination.

STOLISOMANCY draws omens from the way people dress.

SYCOMANCY is performed by writing messages on tree leaves; the slower they dry, the more favorable the omen. A modern variation is to write on slips of paper (always including one blank) and rolling them up. They are then held in a strainer over a boiling pot; the first to unroll will be answered.

TEPHRAMANCY is divination by ashes obtained from the burning of tree bark.

TIROMANCY is a type of divination using cheese.

Today I’d like to talk about enchanting: the practice of charging objects with a magickal purpose. This can be done in many different ways; it is not required to follow complicated rituals and use specific ingredients to successfully enchant an object, but rituals are a great way to focus one’s will during the process.

This is the way I do it. 🌙

Start with meditation, trying to reach a very deep and focused meditative state. You have to feel your own power grow inside of you. I find that listening to music is a great way to make this process easier. 

Focus on your goal: in the case of a protection spell, you can try to visualize a protective bubble around you, or a shield that repels unwanted energies. Take your time to make the image very clear in your head.

Pick the object you wish to enchant. In this case, I used a round black onyx stone, which is known to have protective properties (but you can use whichever object you have on hand, as long as you feel a positive connection to it). Cleanse and bless the object however you see fit (I use New Moon Water and Chaos Water).

Draw the enchanting circle on a piece of paper. I start with a basic alchemical circle: I draw the three symbols of mercury, salt and sulphur around the circle and I draw a six-pointed star inside. Then I start drawing inside the circle, trying to remain focused on my goal as much as I can, and leaving a blank space where I will place the object I want to enchant.  

Surround the enchanting circle with salt to protect it from any external interference. I also place obsidian, clear quartz and carnelian around it as a representation of the alchemical transmutation. If you want, you can light a candle that matches your goal (for protection, use a black candle).

Place your object inside the enchanting circle and leave it there to charge for as long as you want. You either can remain focused on your enchantment, or you can leave the circle alone to do its magick. (But please, never leave candles unattended!)

Here’s a closer look at my protection circle. You can copy it down and use it as it is, or you can change it to fit your personal spell. 

If you feel that the object is losing its charge after being used, you can just put it back on the circle and leave it there overnight.

If you’d like to know more about the ideas behind alchemy, check my previous post on the topic here.

*Sun, Moon, Venus*

Aries: Go to the gym, cook dinner, make/play music of some kind, get your hair done, travel, swim, meditate, cleanse your room, play with a dog/cat

Taurus: Face masks, baths, bake, get your nails done, get a massage, go on a hike, watch your favorite movie, cuddle, listen to guitar

Gemini: Write your feelings down, chat with a friend, take a bath, paint, draw, mediate, get a massage, have someone play with your hair, read a magazine, a romance novel

Cancer: Take a nap, cry it out, take a walk, watch a comedy movie, take a shower, watch netflix, talk to a family member, play with children, play with a cat/dog, watch a sad movie, listen to your favorite album

Leo: Paint, draw, write, talk to a friend, grab lunch, go to the gym, eat healthier, bath bombs, face mask, lavender essential oil, buy a gift for yourself or a friend, get a massage

Virgo: Clean, make a list of everything you love, cedarwood essential oil, buy yourself something nice, get your nails done, call a family member, cook, run errands, write it out, go to an art museum, dance by yourself

Libra: Go for a run, spend time in nature,a bath, face mask, candles, pick flowers, go on a date, take a nap, eat your favorite ice cream, try a new makeup look, hangout with a friend

Scorpio: Go out for dinner, research something you’re interested in, eucalyptus essential oil, mediate, crystal healing, go outside, try something new with your look, light a candle, get some amethyst 

Sagittarius: Make a list of places you want to go, take pictures and print them, redecorate your room, play video games, meet up with friends, go to the gym, eat healthy, “Saving my money for…” list, go outside, meditate

Capricorn: Write your feelings, talk to a friend, coloring books, buy something you love, candles, lime essential oil, read, look at aesthetics, yoga, museums, look up cool websites (peopleofnewyork is a cool site)

Aquarius: Draw, research something that interests you, walk in a nearby city, meet new people, rearrange your room, buy a piece of art, talk about something stimulating, tarot/oracle cards, daydream

The Witches’ Baptism

Or – perhaps more fittingly – the Witches’ Rites of Renunciation are meant to sever the religious ties of your own personal past. This is done (I have found) for two distinct reasons: to shed the preconceptions forced by organized religion, including both the doctrines and the antithetic notion of hierarchal power in regards to Enlightenment, and as a symbol of rebirth. Much like a baptism! Only in this instance, the sin you wash away is the sin of religious indoctrination, hypocrisy and the very human realities that accompany the notion of “church.” It is meant to be a freeing exercise – one that cleanses all the malformed ideologies imbued on you throughout your earlier life. Of course, that is easier said than done and no one ritual can truly clear the slate completely, but it serves as a formal boundary between the past and the future – a future in which you must relearn your understanding of the world at large. One in which the answers presented are not set in stone, but fluid – from which you must come to your own conclusions, test your own theories and tessellate the scattered mythos and ideas into a cohesive faith – you own faith, reliant wholly on none other than yourself.

That is The Witches’ Baptism, and this is one example of how it may be performed:

Ideally, the rite should be done at a Crossroad (of whichever type speaks to you the most) as it is a transformative ritual! Bring with you whatever you need to light a fire in your preferred method – such as wood for a classic bonfire, Sacred Fire to light in a bowl/cauldron/vessel, or alcohol – which can be poured in a circle (note: isopropyl alcohol isn’t fond of the cold or wind, so either plan according to weather or bring a backup solution).

On site, when you are emotionally prepared, build your fire. Depending on your chosen medium, your window of opportunity will differ greatly (the above are listed from greatest to least burn-time), so factor this in as well. For those of you who thoroughly enjoy taking your time, I recommend building a true fire.

The following part should be personalized to fit your taste, as how you wish to release the past is up to you. You can do it simply, by speaking out loud that you rebuke the religion of your youth/past (traditionally, this is done by rebuking the Holy Spirit of Christianity – the unforgivable blasphemy – so as to free oneself from its vice-grip, though the renunciation can extend to any religion [or even no religion]). As an example:

I, [name], child of [father’s name] and [mother’s name], Reared in the faith of [“Our Lord,” “Yahweh,” “Allah,” etc.] – rebuke these laws; No longer am I bound by tomes or cathedral walls, Nor do I kneel at the altar of man – But I walk the crooked path – proud, For I was born in the Earth – In the Heart of the Tempest; And so I have become; From whence I came – so I return.

A few other options consist of writing these things out – in as long-winded or concise a manner as you wish (these can even be written days in advance) – or burning a symbol of the past. The flames are freeing – allow them to be.

Purge these broken things from the mind and heart, and cast them symbolically into the consuming fire of creation and destruction. It is these things that stand as obstacle – let them be cleansed from you. And when the time has come, when these things have been expressed and used as kindling (carefully) leap the fire (and try not to wear any hairspray!). Then you are free.

Upon the other side, you may douse the fire, allow it to burn out, or use this time to connect with another Spirit or Deity (I said you were free, not that you had to stay free!), Nature at large, or even with yourself – whichever is most befitting your chosen path. Theoretically, this could be done by an Abrahamic witch if only to cleanse the effects of church indoctrination – for those who wish to follow the gospels/tomes in a unique or personal way.

And for those who wish to follow the Traditional Witch path (the “origin” of the Witches’ Baptism), this would be the perfect instance to Evoke the Devil!

emoji spell for rain!