Dustin

Greek name: Ἑρμης

God of: Heards and flocks, travellers and hospitality, roads and trade, thievery and cunning, heralds and diplomacy, language and writing, athletic contests and gymnasiums, astronomy and astrology

Epithets: Epimelius (keeper of the flocks), Criophorus (ram-bearer), Agoraeus (of the marketplace), Dolius (of crafts, of wiles), Enagonius (of the games), Promachus (champion), Hermeneutes (interpreter, translator), Tricephalus (three-headed, of road intersections), Cyllenius (of Mount Cyllene), Acacesius (of Acacesium), Aepytus (of Aepytus), Propylaeus (of the gateway), Pronaus (of the fore-temple), Polygius (unknown), Paramnon (unknown), Argeiphontes (slayer of Argos), Maiados Huios (son if Maia), Diactorus (guide, messenger), Athanatus Diactorus (immortal guide), Angelus Athanaton (messenger of the gods), Angelus Macaron (messenger of the blessed), Chrysorrhapis (of the golden wand), Clepsiphron (deciever, dissembler), Mechaniotes (trickster, contriver), Pheletes (thief, robber, rustler), Archus Pheleteon (leader of robbers, thieves), Poecilometes (full of various wiles), Polytropus (wily, many-turning), Poneomenus (busy one), Buphonus (slayer of oxen), Oeopolus (sheep-tending, shepherd), Daïs Hetaerus (comrade of the feast), Charidotes (giver of joy), Charmophron (glad-hearted, heart-delighting), Dotor Eaon (giver of good things), Acaceta (guileless, gracious), Euscopus (keen-sighted, watchful), Eriounes (luck-bringing, ready-helper), Cydimus (glorious), Ericydes (famous, glorious, splendid), Aglaus (splendid, bright, glorious), Cratus/Craterus (strong, mighty), Masterius (of searchers), Pompaeus (the guide)

Job: Messenger of Zeus, guide to the Underworld

Depictions: Young, beardless, handsome, athletic; older, bearded

Symbols: Winged traveller's cap, winged boots, heralds wand, short sword, pouch, hermea (stone road-marker, wayside shrine),

Sacred animals: Hare, turtle, sheep, cow, ram, hawk, horses, mules, goats

Sacred plants: Crocus, strawberry tree (not to be confused with the strawberry bush)

Day of the week: Wednesday

Number: 4

Planet: Mercury

Celebrations: Hermea

Parents: Zeus and Maia

Partners: Aphrodite, Apemosyne, Brimo, Carmentis, Chione, Circe, Crocus, Daeira, Herse, Iphthime, The Oreads, Peitho, Penelope, Persephone, Polymele, Tanagra

How I Make Sigils:

• choose a sentence/word

-> use positive affirmations

-> NO negative words

• cross out vowels and repeating letters

• use a chart to assign letters to numbers (1-9)

-> remove repeating numbers

• write numbers in a 3x3 grid

-> you can also do this on other shapes

-> another common shape is a circle (looks kind of like a clock drawn out)

• connect the numbers from lowest in growing order

This post is super long & has tons of pictures so I’m hiding it.

Already starting to plan this years garden so I thought I should do a post on Witch Gardens

Moonlight Garden

A garden that blooms in the moonlight, a great place to perform night time rituals, meditations, or to just take a midnight stroll. A garden that is full of magick even after the sun sets. 

Plants to add in your moonlight garden:

Moonflower: (Ipomoea alba) A nocturnal relative of the morning glory. Has fragrant flowers that open at dusk and close by dawn.    

Evening Primrose: (Oenothera biennis) Has beautiful, scented flowers that bloom only at dusk. 

Night Flox: (Zaluzianskya capensis) A sweetly fragranced flower that only unfurls its pinwheeled shaped flowers after dusk. 

Four O’Clock: (Mirabilis jalapa) Its scented flowers bloom at around 4:00pm (hence its name) and do not close up until morning. 

Queen of the Night: (Epiphyllum oxypetalum) A species of cactus whose flowers only open at night. Attracts moths and bats!!!

Night Blooming Jessamine: (Cestrum nocturnum) Strong, sweet scented star shaped flowers that only bloom at night. Attracts moths and bats!!! All parts are toxic, do not ingest!

Angel’s Trumpet: (Brugmansia) Produces a strong scent on warm summer evenings. All parts are toxic, do not ingest!

Evening Stock: (Matthiola longipetala) Produces lots of small blossoms that produce a perfume described as a mix of vanilla, rose, spice, and cloves only after the sun sets.

Ever-Flowering Gladiolus: (Gladiolus tristis) Release a strong almond fragrance after dusk.  

Lilac: (Syringa vulgaris) Although has a perfume during the day, it is said to be a lot stronger after dark. 

Flowering Tobacco: (Nicotiana) Open in the late afternoon and have a fragrance that smells of jasmine. All parts are toxic if ingested!

Summer Snapdragon: (Angelonia angustifolia) Preferably in white, to reflect the moonlight. Has a scent apple-scented foliage. 

Silvermound: (Artemisia schmidtiana) Has thick foliage that will shimmer under the moonlight.

Jack Frost: (Brunnera macrophylla) Hdeart shaped leaves of silver and green, perfect to add more highlights of silver to your moon lit garden. 

Any plant that blooms after dark or has white, lavender, pale pink, pale yellow on it is a perfect addition to your moonlight garden. 

Things to add:

Stepping stones that have the phases of the moon.

Fairy lights

A place to sit

Candles

A small fountain to sing along with the insects and birds of the night

String charms and bells on tree branches for a soft jingling every time a gentle breeze passes. 

Herb Garden

For witches who need a more practical garden for uses of healing, tea crafting, drying, and growing plants used in their practices.

Plants to add to your herb garden:

Anise: Helps to ward of the evil eye, find happiness, and stimulates psychic abilities. 

Basil: Use for anything pertaining with love, exorcism, wealth, sympathy, and protection. Dispels confusion, fears & weakness. Drives off hostile spirits.

Bergamont: Corresponds with money and prosperity. Provides with protection from evil and illness, improves memory, stops interference, and promotes restful sleep.

Borage: Corresponds with courage and psychic powers. 

Cat Nip: Is sacred to the Goddess Bast. Brings forth beauty, happiness, good luck, and good spirits.

Chamomile: Corresponds with love, healing, and sleep. Is known to reduce stress.

Chervil: Brings a sense of the higher self, placing you in touch with your divine, immortal spirit.

Coriander: Corresponds with love, health, immortality, and protection.

Dill: Corresponds with money, protection, luck and lust. 

Lemon Balm: Corresponds with love, success, healing, and psychic/spiritual development. 

Marjoram: Used to cleanse, purify, and to dispel negative energy.  

Mint: Promotes energy, communication and vitality.

Oregano: Corresponds with joy, strength, vitality, and added energy 

Parsley: Calms and protects the home.

Rosemary: Protects, cleanses, purifies, and aids memory. 

Sage: Used for self purification and dealing with grief and loss.

Thyme: Attracts loyalty, affection, and the good opinion of others.

Things to add:

A place to dry herbs

A place to compost any herb scraps

Rocks

A place to leave offerings before you harvest

Bee Garden

Make yourself a sanctuary to watch bees frolic and thrive

Plants to add to your bee garden:

Bee balm

Lavender

Crocus

Snow Drop

Wildflowers/Any native species

Catmint

Borage

Anise hyssop

Heliotrope

Sunflower

Oregano

Yarrow

Coneflower

Black eyed susan

Asters

Goldenrod

Foxglove

Marigold

Pansies

Sweet peas

Nasturtiums

Things to add:

Bee houses

Bee waterers/bee baths

Bee feeders

A place for offerings to the bees

Some other ideas for your garden:

Hummingbird garden

Medicinal garden

A garden whose plants and decorations represent/correspond with your practice.

Butterfly Garden

Faerie Garden 

The options are endless! I hope this gives you some ideas for this years garden.

Happy planting!

A’s:⭐⭐⭐

Abundance - desire for independence

Accident - something unplanned

Actor//Actress - desire for recognition

Adultery - guilt

Airplane (Transportation)

Altar - self sacrifice

Anchor - stability. Sometimes a desire for a permanent home

Anniffil - the feminine aspect of the individual. Guide to the inner world. Receptive, prospective, and nurturing.

Animal - defends on your feelings for the particular animal. A helpful animal normally represents the instinctive self.

Animus - the masculine aspect of the individual. Uncompromising conviction. Force.

Apple - desire

Arrow - pleasure, festivity

Auction - promise of abundance

Automobile (Transportation)

B’s: ⭐⭐⭐

Baby: Crying - frustrated plans, Laughing - plans fulfilled, Sleeping - waiting period, patience

Balloon - frustration

Basement - a place of refuge or retreat

Battle - inner conflict

Bells - fulfillment of plans, joy

Bicycle (Transportation) - hard work will bring plans to fruition

Birds - usually transcendence from one being to another

Birth - transition to new phase or new aspect of self

Bridge - overcoming difficulties, a change

Broom - the ability to sweep or clean up

Bull - animal nature, stubborness

Burial - end of a phase, time to take a new direction

C’s:⭐⭐⭐

Candle - constancy

Cane//Crutch - the need for support

Capital (City//Town) - the center

Castle - ambition

Cave - a place of retreat or refuge, a need for time to think and meditate

Circle - totality, perfection, infinity

Cities - gatherings of consciousness

Climbing - the self mastery process, rising consciousness

Clock - the passage of time, the need to take action

Clothes - attitude, personality

Coffin (Burial)

Cradle - potential for advancement

Crossing a River - a fundamental change of attitude

Crying - emotion, usually a sad event

Crystal - union of matter and spirit

Curtains - concealment, adornment

Colors🌈🌈🌈

Red - strength, health, vigor, sexual love, danger, charity

Orange - encouragement, adaptation, stimulation, attraction, plenty kindness

Yellow - persuasion, charm, confidence, jealousy, joy, comfort

Green - finance, fertility, luck, energy, charity, growth

Blue - tranquility, understanding, patience, health, truth, devotion, sincerity

Indigo - changeability, impulsiveness, depression, ambition, dignity

Violet - tension, power, sadness, piety, sentimentality

D’s:⭐⭐⭐

Darkness - the spirit world, the subconscious, turning inward

Death - the end of something, opportunity for new beginnings

Dog - loyalty, laziness, anger

E’s:⭐⭐⭐

Eating - need for new interests, stimulation

Evening - descending into the subconscious world

Eye - perception, self-examination

F’s:⭐⭐⭐

Falling - failing to live to expectations

Fish - transcendence from one state of being to another

Fire - anger, purification, abundance of energy

Flowers - contentment, pleasure

Flying (Transportation)

G’s:⭐⭐⭐

Girl - immature feminine aspect

Glass - perception, being able to see (sometimes in the future)

Graduation - initiation, completing a phase

H’s:⭐⭐⭐

Hair - thought, grey or silver hair indicates wise thought

Hammer - power to drive forward

Helpful Animal - the instinctive self

Highway - the path, the way ahead

Horse: White Horse - symbol of life, prosperity; Black Horse - change of fortunes; Wild Horse - uncontrolled instinctive urges; Winged Horse - transcendence from one state of being to another

House: The symbol of personality and conscious interest from the spiritual view. The particular room represents particular interest >> Bathroom - cleansing, elimination of the undesired; Basement - place of refuge, retreat, concealment; Bedroom - place of rest and recovery; Dining Room - place of sustenance, refortification; Kitchen - a place to prepare the sustenancen; Living Room - place of socializing

I’s: ⭐⭐⭐

Ice - coldness of character, frigidity, rigidity

Illness - boredom, delay

Individual Self - the “real” you, the inner you, the all-wise, all-powerful spiritual self

J’s:⭐⭐⭐

Jail - confinement, frustration, inability to act

Journey (Transportation)

Judge //Jury - your conscience

K’s:⭐⭐⭐

Key - the answer to a problem

Kiss - satisfaction, completion

L’s:⭐⭐⭐

Ladder - ability to climb (note the length of the ladder)

Left (as in side of direction) - the subconscious side, sometimes the wrong side of direction, the logical side, the scientific side

Light - hope

Lines: Broken lines - represents the feminine aspect; Solid lines - the masculine aspect

Lizard - transcendence

Lock - frustration, security

M’s:⭐⭐⭐

Man//Male - animus, the masculine aspect, the age indicates the maturity or lack of it in the individual

Mask - falsehood, deception, concealment

Mirror - need to reconsider

Mother - heaven, comfort

N’s:⭐⭐⭐

Nakedness - real, true, without false attitudes, exposed, natural

Night - greatest strength of the super-consciousness

Noon - the greatest clarity of consciousness

Numbers 💯💯💯

Even Number - signify balance and harmony

Odd Number - signify imbalance and discord

The beginning, the source, the ego

Duality, the male and female, positive and negative

Father, mother, and child; past, present, and future

The material universe, consciousness, reality, and law, physical power, initiative, religion and spiritual evolution

It represents materialism, expansion, change, understanding, and change

The number of cooperation and balance. It represents interaction between the material and the spiritual, mental and physical. It signifies psychism, peace

Completion, old age, endurance, evolution and wisdom. The seven stages of spiritual transformation

The number of dissolution and separation. The law of cyclic evolution and invention

Rebirth and reformation. Intuition, travel, karma

0. The circle, infinity, the universe

O’s:⭐⭐⭐

Ocean - opportunity, spirituality

Owl - wisdom, need for further evaluation

P’s:⭐⭐⭐

Pearl - joy; Broken string of pearls - misunderstanding

Pirate - suspicion

Pyramid - thirst for knowledge, seeking

R’s:⭐⭐⭐

Railroad - a set path to follow

Rainbow - great happiness, opportunity

Reading - learning, gaining in knowledge, perceiving

Riding (Transportation)

Right - the consciousness, correctness, the artistic side

Ring - completion, loyalty

River - spirituality, a boundary

Rocket (Transportation)

Rocks - the unchanging self

Rodents - transcendence or a less-than-nice person, distrust, betrayal

Roller Skates (Transportation)

Roses (Flowers)

Ruins - failure of plans

S’s:⭐⭐⭐

Sacrifice - overcoming pride

School - a need to learn

Scissors - distrust

Sea (Ocean)

Self-image - the inner or spiritual self

Shadow - the subconscious, insubstantiality

Ship (Transportation)

Skeleton - the basics, the root of a problem

Snake - spiritual wisdom, transcendence into a state of wisdom

Snake-bites - infusion of wisdom

Soldiers - force, power, regeneration

Spade - cutting, tough work lies ahead

Sunrise - clearing of consciousness, awakening

Sunset - need to protect assets

Swan - beauty, comfort, satisfaction

Sword - conflict

T’s:⭐⭐⭐

Table - support, a platform for presentation

Telescope - need to get closer to a subject

Thief - loss or fear of loss, insecurity

Thunder - anger

Touching - healing. On rare occasions it may mean a curse. Can be comfort, security. The manner of touch and your feeling about it is important

Trains (Transportation)

Transcendence - achieving full realization of the individual self

Transformation (Transcendence)

Transportation - spiritual advancement. The more efficient the mode, the more effective and rapid is the advancement

Tree - the life principle, psychic growth and development, progress

Tunnel - hiding, being afraid

Turning - changing or developing. Turning in a circle represents lack of progress

Twins - ego and alter ego

U’s & V’s:⭐⭐⭐

Umbrella - shelter

Veil - insecurity

Volcano - emotions

W’s:⭐⭐⭐

Wall - frustration, inability

Water - spirituality, emotion

Wedding - culmination of plans, happiness, success

Witch - supernatural ability, wisdom

There’s an awesome post going around by @prettycitywitch that discusses crystal care and toxicity. I noticed a few errors in it, just due to the source that was used, so I contacted her and got permission to rewrite it to ensure the most accurate information possible is spread around in the witchy community. I’ve gone through every crystal in her list and added a few others. 

Everything in this list has been confirmed by the Gemological Institute of America Laboratory (one of the foremost in gemological research), multiple published mineralogical sources, and/or at least two online mineralogical databases. Crystals of particular concern in each category have been bolded; the other listed crystals have a bit of wiggle room.

Crystals affected by sunlight or heat Most crystals (including nearly all in this list) are safe to expose to sunlight temporarily - you can wear them in jewelry during the day, for example, but don’t leave them in your windowsill for weeks. In general, colorless crystals may be left in the sun indefinitely, while colored (especially pink) crystals should be stored in a place that doesn’t get direct sun all day. Heat, on the other hand, can easily affect many crystals, but usually only at high temperatures (steam or a jeweler’s torch), so I’ve only included the ones that could be damaged by relatively low temperatures.

Amber - may crack in heat

Amethyst - may fade over time; safe to expose to sun temporarily

Apophyllite - heat can cause flaking; sunlight is fine as long as the specimen is kept cool

Maxixe (dark blue beryl) - fades extremely quickly to pale brown in sunlight; color can only be restored through irradiation

Azurite - will fade over time with exposure to sunlight; store in a dark, cool environment

Celestine - fades in long exposure to sunlight

Chrysoprase - may fade in sunlight; restoration of color sometimes possible through prolonged storage in water

Fluorite - occasionally can fade in sunlight

Hackmanite - exhibits tenebrescence, a temporary change in color due to sun exposure; will return to original color if kept in a dark area

Hiddenite - unstable in sunlight and heat to a lesser degree than kunzite; however, some darker green hiddenite is much more unstable than kunzite and great care should be taken, as it can fade in a matter of minutes

Kunzite - will fade drastically in sunlight; indoor incandescent light can also slowly affect this stone

Larimar - fades over time when exposed to sunlight and heat

Morganite - deeper colors or more lilac hues can fade in sunlight

Opal - fading is minimal, but sunlight, heat, and changes in air pressure can cause internal fracturing called “crazing”

Pearl (& mother-of-pearl) - may lose color or turn dull in sunlight or heat

Sulfur - extremely heat-sensitive; crystals may fracture or burst if left in the sun or held in your hand

Topaz - irradiated stones may fade in direct sunlight

Tugtupite - exhibits tenebrescence, a temporary change in color due to sun exposure; will return to original color if kept in a dark area

Vanadinite - may darken and lose transparency in sunlight

Zircon - heat-treated stones may revert to original color over time in sunlight; avoid exposure to UV lights (tanning beds, nail salons, etc)

Water-soluble crystals Though many crystals will eventually be worn away by water mostly due to tiny particles of other substances suspended in the water, there are very few that will dissolve in water in any significant way. Contrary to what some believe, most crystals with the suffix ‘-ite’ aren’t water-soluble; ‘-ite’ simply means ‘stone’ and is part of most mineralogical names. 

Anhydrite - not water-soluble, but instead will absorb water and convert to gypsum; store in a dry environment and do not submerge

Boji stone - not water-soluble, but may rust due to iron component

Calcite - somewhat soluble in slightly acidic water; neutral or slightly alkaline water is usually safe; negligible dissolution in air due to gaseous carbon dioxide

Celestine - very slightly soluble

Chalcanthite - easily soluble in water, but must be stored in a humid environment

Chalcopyrite - not soluble, but may rust due to iron content

Fluorite - very slightly soluble

Gypsum - somewhat soluble; solubility decreases in warmer water

Halite - easily dissolves in water; moisture from your skin or humidity in the air can eat away at crystals

Hematite - not water-soluble, but exposed rough areas may rust

Magnesite - slightly soluble; solubility increases with presence of salt

Magnetite - not water-soluble, but may rust due to iron content

Malachite - slightly soluble in water containing carbon dioxide

Marcasite - water may trigger decomposition into melanterite, which contains sulfuric acid

Mica (muscovite, fuchsite, lepidolite, etc) - plate or sheet-like specimens may absorb water into cleavage planes and begin to break apart; aggregated crystals are safe in water

Pyrite - exposure to water, including high-humidity environments, can trigger breakdown

Rhodochrosite - slightly soluble in water containing carbon dioxide

Selenite - somewhat soluble; solubility decreases in warmer water

Sulfur - soluble in warm water; may form sulfuric acid over time if left in a wet or humid environment

Ulexite - dissolves in hot water; slightly soluble in cold water

Acid-soluble crystals A large number of crystals will dissolve in acid. Many only dissolve in strong acids, such as hydrochloric acid - I won’t list those here because it generally won’t be a concern. There is very little information on mineral solubility in weak acids, such as vinegar, so this list is incomplete. But really, why are you soaking any of your crystals in acid?

Amber - “young amber” is soluble in a large number of chemicals

Aragonite - easily soluble, even in dilute acids; effervesces

Atacamite - readily soluble in acids

Azurite - may be slightly soluble

Calcite - easily soluble; effervesces

Lapis lazuli - composed of a number of minerals, including calcite, which may be acid-soluble; acetone and other substances may remove dye

Magnesite - slightly soluble in acids

Malachite - readily soluble in acids; color may also be affected

Pearl (& mother-of-pearl) - soluble in acids; surface will become dull and pitted

Rhodochrosite - slightly soluble in warm acids; effervesces

Smithsonite - effervesces and dissolves in acids

All water-soluble crystals

Crystals affected by salt Salt is a dehydrator, so any hydrated crystal may be damaged by it. Salt has a hardness of 2 to 2.5 and may scratch any mineral softer than this. It is safe to put non-hydrated crystals of a hardness between 2.5 and 7 in salt, but very fine scratches may occur due to impurities; don’t put cabochons or faceted stones in this hardness range in salt.

Apophyllite - may dehydrate in salt, resulting in flaking; usually not an issue unless combined with heat

Cavansite - may dehydrate

Chalcanthite - dehydrates easily, forming potentially dangerous powder; store in a humid environment

Gypsum (including selenite) - hardness of 2; may be scratched by salt; may dehydrate to anhydrite

Opal - will dehydrate and develop internal fractures called “crazing”; store in a wet or humid environment

Pearl (& mother-of-pearl) - may become dull and pitted

Stilbite - may dehydrate

Potentially dangerous crystals

In general, crystals are pretty safe - handling them is usually okay. Many crystals do have somewhat dangerous elements, such as aluminum-bearing garnets, but they’re “locked” in the crystal structure in a way that prevents them from harming us unless the crystal is powdered or dissolved and inhaled/ingested. The occasional garnet or moonstone gem water won’t hurt you in the slightest.

Because there’s no way for this list to be ‘complete’ - I don’t know what unusual stones you might have - I advise you to never make gem waters with or otherwise ingest

powdery, very fine, or fibrous crystals;

crystals which you have not identified;

metal ores;

metals, with the exceptions of gold, platinum, tungsten, and titanium; and

stones composed of a variety of minerals.

Don’t use these crystals for gem water, elixir, massage oil, etc. Don’t put these crystals in your mouth or otherwise insert them into your body.

Adamite - contains arsenic

Amazonite - generally safe, but the color is usually caused by traces of lead; don’t use flaky or powdery specimens in gem waters

Atacamite - contains copper

Aurichalcite - contains copper and zinc

Azurite - contains copper

Boji stone - composition can vary, so some stones may have dangerous components

Brochantite - contains copper

Cerussite - ore of lead; wash hands after handling; do not inhale dust

Chalcanthite - contains copper; wash hands after handling; do not rub eyes after handling; do not inhale; do not ingest

Chalcopyrite - ore of copper

Chrysocolla - contains copper

Cinnabar - ore of mercury; always wash hands after handling; do not inhale dust; never ingest in any form; do not heat; massive (aggregate) cinnabar can contain elemental mercury which is very easily absorbed by the body

Conichalcite - contains copper and arsenic

Cuprite - contains copper; do not ingest

Dioptase - delicate, may break or crumble into powder; contains copper

Eilat stone - contains copper

Galena - ore of lead; wash hands after handling; flaky/crumbly specimens are common, be careful not to inhale dust

Malachite - contains copper

Marcasite - decomposes to melanterite, which contains sulfuric acid; do not ingest; wash hands after handling; do not inhale

Mohawkite - contains copper and arsenic; may contain other toxins

Psilomelane - contains barium

Pyrite - broken-down pyrite can contain sulfuric acid; do not ingest; if pyrite appears blackish or crumbly, wash hands after handling

Realgar - contains arsenic; wash hands after handling; never ingest

Serpentine (sp. chrysotile) - safe unless fibrous; do not inhale; asbestos

Stibnite - very soft; contains antimony

Sulfur - can form sulfuric acid when in contact with moisture

Turquoise - usually safe unless powdery; contains copper

Vanadinite - contains lead; may have traces of arsenic

Wulfenite - ore of lead and molybdenum; do not ingest or inhale

A few final safety reminders

⚠️ Never swallow any crystals, because some otherwise safe crystals can interact with your stomach acids and produce dangerous chemicals.

⚠️ Never crush, powder, or dissolve crystals with the intention of inhaling or ingesting them - fine powders and solutions make elements more accessible to the body.

⚠️ Wash your crystals in water and gentle soap before making any gem waters, elixirs, etc. with them. Even if the crystal itself is safe, it may have been in contact with other dangerous crystals or chemicals.

⚠️ Never make gem water, elixirs, etc. with crystals that are on/in matrix (the base rock the crystals grew from). You don’t know what the matrix is composed of, and it may contain dangerous minerals or elements.

⚠️ Never burn, hold in a candle flame, or intentionally heat your crystals. Intentional heating should only be performed by a jewelry or gemstone professional in a controlled environment. The sole exception to this is anhydrite without matrix, which may be carefully raised to 200°C (~400°F), dry heat, to dehydrate it and change any gypsum components back to anhydrite. Be aware that this process can occasionally result in fractures, breakage, or internal damage to the stone.

(in case you wanted to know because i fucking love this language) 

ad astra per aspera - to the stars through difficulties 

alis volat propriis - he flies by his own wings 

amantium irae amoris integratio est - the quarrels of lovers are the renewal of love 

ars longa, vita brevis - art is long, life is short 

aut insanity homo, aut versus facit - the fellow is either mad or he is composing verses 

dum spiro spero - while I breathe, I hope 

ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem - with the sword, she seeks peace under liberty 

exigo a me non ut optimus par sim sed ut malis melior - I require myself not to be equal to the best, but to be better than the bad

experiential docet - experience teaches 

helluo librorum - a glutton for books (bookworm) 

in libras libertas - in books, freedom 

littera scripta manet - the written letter lasts 

mens regnum bona possidet - an honest heart is a kingdom in itself 

mirabile dictu - wonderful to say 

nullus est liber tam malus ut non aliqua parte prosit - there is no book so bad that it is not profitable in some part 

omnia iam fient quae posse negabam - everything which I used to say could not happen, will happen now 

poeta nascitur, non fit - the poet is born, not made 

qui dedit benificium taceat; narrat qui accepit - let him who has done a good deed be silent; let him who has received it tell it 

saepe ne utile quidem est scire quid futurum sit - often, it is not advantageous to know what will be 

sedit qui timuit ne non succederet - he who feared he would not succeed sat still 

si vis pacem, para bellum - if you want peace, prepare for war 

struit insidias lacrimis cum feminia plorat - when a woman weeps, she is setting traps with her tears 

sub rosa - under the rose 

trahimir omnes laudis studio - we are led on by our eagerness for praise

urbem latericium invenit, marmoream reliquit - he found the city a city of bricks; he left it a city of marble 

(DISCLAIMER: I didn’t invent most of these, just accumulated a lot from across the internet amongst other resources)

When something isn’t going your way: find The Wheel of Fortune, the cards on either side are the solution to the problem

To bring wealth; shuffle then pull the 1st, 5th, 10th, 20th, and 50th cards

When a romantic relationship is turning rocky; shuffle and find The Lovers, the cards on either side are the root of the problem

When you need to make a decision; shuffle, then find the 2 of Swords, the cards on either side are the different outcomes

When you’ve done fucked up shuffle then find The Fool, the cards on either side are how to fix the problem

Make a wish and draw a card

👁 clairvoyance - clair seeing

clairvoyants are the dreamers, the visionaries of the world who are blessed with an open third eye. they will watch scenarios happen like a movie in their mind and have no trouble visualizing situations - in fact, they manifest easiest by visualizing! 

signs of being a clairvoyant:

you are more drawn to the aesthetics, colors, and character’s outlooks in a movie

get messages through seeing scenarios in your head or seeing certain images, numbers, words etc. around in life

have mental images randomly flash before your eyes

find it easy to visualize places, people, etc.

you learn best by seeing

you see flashes of colors, numbers, symbols, floating orbs, colored “blobs” in the air or images

sometimes seem as if a “movie” is playing in your head

you see people’s auras

you get distracted easily

you see how things fit together (about situations)

your sense of direction is always on point. you somehow always end up being where you need to be even though you can get lost

having vivid and reoccurung dreams, recieving messages through dreams

you feel a tingling or unusual awareness of the “third eye” area (between the eyebrows) randomly or when you involve in spiritual work

shadows that seem like they are floating in the air

glittering or flashing lights in the air

movement or twinkling lights out of the corner of your eyes

you can be often found daydreaming in class, among friends, in your bed etc.

you have a good sense of style and you know how to put a good outfit together

you are a skilled creator and designer (web/graphic designer, writer, filmmaker etc.) and you are talented at painting, arts and crafts because you are a visual person and you have a deep connection with beautiful things. 

👂🏻clairaudience - clair hearing

these are the singers, motivational speakers, musicians, communicators and authors in our society. they have a way with words and they have a connection to music, or anything they hear. they manifest best by reading their manifestations aloud! they recieve messages through hearing.

signs of being clairaudient:

you’re sensitive to sound

you talk to yourself a lot

you hear messages from the TV or radio, sounds, words you hear from people and things you read etc. that were delivered personally for you

you hear ringing and buzzing that no one else hears

you’re musically inclined and you have a ver much deeper connection to music, it can put you in the best and worst mood

you can tell how others feel by their voice

you can’t focus when there’s noise

you give great advice, but you don’t necessarily know where it comes from

you learn best by hearing (listening)

the songs, background music, auditory effects and actors’ voices catch your attention the most in a movie

you’re a good speaker and you learn languages easily

you’re always guiding and uplifting people.

you hate sudden or loud noises

you hear messages from the TV or radio etc. that were delivered personally for you

if you have clairaudience, you also will have the gift of clear speaking. this means that you can channel, share, and speak the messages you hear from the spirits to others

you’ve heard muffled speaking or sounds as though it’s coming through underwater and  heard strange noises around the house such as banging, knocking and creaking.

💫 clairsentience - clair feeling

clairsentients are the sensitive poets of our world who feel things very deeply and to the heart. being clairsentient means you receive psychic information through sensing or feeling subtle energy.  clairsentience is often confused with intuition, or labeled as just a ‘hunch’, an ‘inkling’ or a ‘gut feeling’. most of our mothers are clairsentients

signs of being a clairsentient

you’re a highly sensitive individual, especially when it comes to the energy of your surroundings because your environment affects your mood

your mood seems to fluctuate depending on who you’ve talked to, or who you’re surrounded by

you tend to get overwhelmed in large crowds or places where violet acts have occurred

when you walk into a room you can quickly tell if people are relaxed and enjoying themselves, or if there’s tension hanging in the air.

you have strong initial impressions about people that almost always prove to be spot on

you’re able to easy relate to where others are and understand their perspective and where they’re coming from, you’re very understanding

you experience spiritual chills or get goosebumps as a sort of validation of truth.

you can feel spiritual beings’ presence around you

you are good at reading people and sometimes you feel their emotions

you’ve noticed temperature changes, or breezes in a room without any physical explanation for “why”

you have a keen sense of smell and taste that works to tune into subtle energies, as well as physical items

you can sense when two people have been arguing, are angry with each other or when there’s something between them

you sometimes feel tingling sensations on the top of your head and you get headaches

you’ve felt there was someone in the room with you when you were alone

you’ve experienced the sensation of being patted on the shoulder, your hair brushed, or your hand held with out anyone being there 

out of no where you’ve experienced your vibration lifting, and strong energy sensations in your body

🧠claircognizance - clair knowing

and here are the scientists and researchers of our world! they are blessed with the physic ability of clear knowing. if you need a critical thinker to solve your problem, go to a claircognizant person! these people literally just know things.

signs you are a claircognizant

you just know things. yeah, that’s true. claircognizants just know things. they can’t explain how they know or where the information or idea came from.

you’re very straightforward and blunt which people can take as insensitivity or rudeness

you love learning from books, audio books, seminars and courses. you soak up knowledge like a sponge and there always seems to be room for more

you get quick and sudden ideas and you’re almost always excited to share them

you have a sense of inner knowing when something is not a good idea, despite the fact that it seems perfect on the surface

you have a certainty that someone is lying about something, despite evidence to the contrary

you’re a very organized person with perfect common sense

you receive information about future outcomes

you know where to look to find missing objects and you always find them 

people tend to bring all kinds of questions to you. usually it’s something they can’t solve. they always leave feeling like you’ve given them the answer they were looking for.

when someone asks you a question of which you have no foreknowledge, and the answer comes to you out of the blue. you can simply see it in your head and share it with others.

you can read people easily and your initial thoughts turn out to be spot on over time

you’re a left brain person and prefer things to be logical and orderly

you have a unique mind and spend your time thinking a lot – or writing a lot (many authors and songwriters are claircognizant)

//ASTROLOGY MOODBOARD//SAGITTARIUS SUN+SCORPIO MOON+PISCES RISING//

Open your curtains in the morning and look outside

Always try to stay grounded. Observe life around you

Make a list of the correspondences of certain soaps or other products that you have. Use a product with intent

Draw sigils

Chant in your head

Walk, sit, or lie down outside. Watch the plants dance in the wind and listen to your surroundings

Carry crystals or objects that mean a certain thing to you

Take time for yourself

Smile at strangers and visualize sending positive energy their way

Listen to music that represents your intent

Pick your outfits using colour magic

Light a candle

Do something for your community. By putting good things out, the universe will repay you

Try interpreting a tarot card for each day

Be creative. Find the magic in every day objects

Practice energy work

Meditate

Schedule days to go to the library and research plants, herbs, your religion, etc

Say thank you more often. Even when no one is there

Try to grow some plants

Have tea more often

Go outside!! I cannot stress this enough. Connect to nature. Go barefoot. Dance in the rain. Anything. Just go out

When hiking pick up things that call to you

Pick up trash. Give back to the planet

Take care and time for yourself

Be patient

THIS TOOK MUCH LONGER THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BUT HERE IS MY COMPILED NOTES ON HOW ASTROLOGICAL SIGN CAN AFFECT INBORN MAGICAL ABILITY BE SURE TO NOTE THAT THIS IS BY NO MEANS THE ONLY DECIDER OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO MAGIC AND THE INFLUENCES OF CULTURE UPBRINGING AND GOOD OL STUDY SHOULD NOT BE DISCOUNTED Aries: People born under Aries have a natural affinity for evocation, the manipulation of natural forces like heat and light. Aries is the sign of firecallers and weather mages. While Aries have an advantage in terms of raw energy, this often comes at the cost of control.

Taurus: Taurus is a tenacious sign. Those born under Taurus have a natural resistance to the arcane. This can be a bit of a double edged sword, as it can make it more difficult to work with the more delicate forms of magic. On the other hand, this thick arcane skin can be useful for handling more dangerous, high-energy spellwork.

Gemini: If you understand how a battery works, those born under Gemini’s dualistic nature have a propensity for the quick absorption/discharge of energy. This manifests as an aptitude for counterspells and redirection. It should also be noted that the more energy one tries to channel, the higher the chance that one may overheat.

Cancer: Cancer is an attentive sign, those born under it often have a talent for the more precise forms of magic like Enchantment or Psychomancy. Cancers tend to be scalpels, not hammers. The largest obstacle a cancer will likely face is a low overall stamina when it comes to magic.

Leo: Leos burn bright. Their relationship to energy is inefficient, often resulting in unwanted side effects. The most common side effect manifests as a mild purifying effect. With practice, this can give the leo an advantage when attempting to rid themselves of unpleasant effects.

Virgo: Virgos are liminal. Their bindings to this plane of reality are a little fuzzier. This makes them adept at breaking those boundaries. Visions of the other side are not uncommon in Virgo children. Know that doors work both ways.

Libra: Libras tend to be a sort of jack-of-all-trades. With no particular astrological affinity for any sort of energy, Virgos tend to be the explorers and experimenters of the arcane arts. All energy seeks to expand. Libra’s have the most naturally harmonious relationship to magic.

Scorpio: Many Scorpio’s can go their entire life not realizing their proclivity for magic. Alchemy is an art that relies on the sort of gut instinct and intuition that actively resists careful thought. More often than not, their friends will realize alchemichal skill before they do. They just make the tea better. Nobody is really sure why.

Ophiuchus: Those born under the serpent bearer have the least harmonious relationship to magic. While this can make the initial learning significantly more difficult, it can lead to significant advantages in the underappreciated arts of unraveling, like hexes, counterspells, obfuscations of magic.

Sagittarius: Equal parts precise and explosive, those born under the archer generally have a great deal of power and control over their abilities. The most common downside to this is little to no control over the amount of energy they discharge, often leading to boughs of exhaustion.

Capricorn: Capricorn is an ever-shifting sign. The fluid nature of magic requires the ability to adapt to and understand new circumstances. Those born under Capricorns are quick learners, but their impressionable, bend-dont-break nature can make heavier lifting difficult.

Aquarius: Aquarians burn cold. Their relationship to the arcane draws energy in from their surroundings like a sponge. They are incredibly sensitive to the world around them, able to pick up on more subtle energies. This is a common sign for psychics, emapths, and those sensitive to spectral energy. If they are not careful to disenchant themselves, this sensitivity can overwhelm, leading to panic attacks and anxiety.

As many of you know, I'm from New England (specifically Massachusetts.) Since I've lived in this area my whole life, I've come into contact with a variety of different superstitions and folkloric tales even before I became a witch. Here are a few of my favorites that I find interesting, and a few that show up in my personal practice!

Painting the front door of your house red will ward off the Evil Eye and malefic witchcraft. The red door will also attract wealth and prosperity.

To determine who you shall marry: write 12 names on 12 slips of paper and place them in an envelope. Sleep with the envelope under your pillow each night, and each morning, remove one of the papers at random. The last slip of paper that remains in the envelope will have the name of the person you will marry written on it.

If you dream about a person three nights in a row, you will marry them.

To prevent a prophetic dream from coming true, do not discuss it until after eating breakfast the following morning.

The best day to get married is Wednesday. The unluckiest day to get married is Friday.

Falling up stairs is a sign of good luck

Make sure you have all your intended belongings before going on a trip- Turning back for a lost item after starting a trip is bad luck.

Draw a daisy wheel to ward of malefic witches.

✨🍑 Fruit Magic 🍑✨

a list of fruit associations for food spells and kitchen witchcraft ✨

🍑 apple | death, love, friendship

🍑 aprocot | love, calmness, relaxation

🍑 avocado | love, beauty, glamours

🍑 banana | fertility, prosperity, potency

🍑 cherry | love, divination

🍑 coconut | protection, cleansing, purification

🍑 fig | love, divination, fertility

🍑 grapes | wisdom, power, fertility

🍑 guava | cleansing, love, romance

🍑 kiwi | health, happiness, vitality, longevity

🍑 lemon | love, purification, fidelity, curses

🍑 lime | protection, healing, purification, love

🍑 mango | harmony, protection, balance

🍑 orange | luck, wealth, divination

🍑 papaya | hex breaking, curse breaking, protection

🍑 passion fruit | calmness, friendship, harmony

🍑 peach | love, fertility, wisdom

🍑 pear | love, sex

🍑 pomegranate | death, honor, divination

🍑 pineapple | luck, money, chastity

🍑 plum | healing, peace, love

🍑 tangerine | energy, strength

TO BIND- wrap in black thread, drip wax over, or seal in a jar and hide it in the dark.

TO BANISH- burn an effect to ash and sweep off the back door step, cast it out a window, or bury in the ground and spit on it

TO ENCOURAGE-  plant it by the front door/steps, bury by a window, or place it on a windowsill

TO HIDE- place in a jar painted black, cover with cloth and bury, or wrap with a ribbon

TO CLEANSE- bury it in a bowl of  salt, burn herbs and pass through the smoke, or lay it in a moonwater bath

TO GLAMOUR- leave under the full moon, hold its reflection over a mirror with herbs, or 

TO WISH- place before a candle and blow it out, drown a coin in water, or let seeds blow into the wind

TO COMMUNICATE- (with a spirit or deity) - anoint a candle, leave out offerings, or open the front doors and windows

TO WARD- leave part of the spell in four corners, draw lines around the protected area, or plant an object of projection in the north, east, south, and west edges

TO CURSE- spit on it, drag your nails down it, or stick sharp things in it

TO DISCOURAGE - plant or bury by the back door, or burn to ash

TO JINX- say it three times out loud, or say a word the same time as someone else

TO MANIPULATE - use wax, use poppets, or tie several strings to pieces of an effect