The Veggie Witch

I know that another fish might eat this bullfrog right after I spend months rehabilitating it.

I know that turning a beetle back onto its legs won’t save it from falling over again when I walk away.

I know that there is no cosmic reward waiting for my soul based on how many worms I pick off a hot sidewalk to put into the mud, or how many times I’ve helped a a raccoon climb out of a too-deep trashcan. 

I know things suffer, and things struggle, and things die uselessly all day long. I’m young and idealistic, but I’m not literally a child. I would never judge another person for walking by an injured bird, for ignoring a worm, or for not really caring about the fate of a frog in a pond full of, y’know, plenty of other frogs.

There is nothing wrong with that.

But I cannot cannot cannot look at something struggling and ignore it if I may have the power to help.

There is so much bad stuff in this world so far beyond my control, that I take comfort in the smallest, most thankless tasks. It’s a relief to say “I can help you in this moment,” even though they don’t understand.

I don’t need a devil’s advocate to tell me another fish probably ate that frog when I let it go, or that the raccoon probably ended up trapped in another dumpster the next night.

I know!!!! I know!!!!!!! But today I had the power to help! So I did! And it made me happy!

There was a big storm and a ton of starfish were washed onto the beach, stranded much further up than they could get back and beginning to bake in the post-storm sunshine. A little girl was walking down the beach, picking up starfish and throwing them back into the sea. Some guy comes up and asks her what she’s doing. “Saving the starfish,” she says.

He looks around at the huge beach and the hundreds of starfish, and says “You can’t possibly save them all. I’m afraid you’re not gonna make much of a difference.”

Kindness is not weakness.

Kindness is brave. Especially when you also know that your kindness might not be returned, may even be met with anger or cruelty. It’s reaching out with an open hand, knowing that it’s just as likely to be bitten as it is to be held. 

I’ve seen one person pay for the car behind them, then the next person pay for the person behind them, and it has gone on for 10 cars before someone didn’t pass it on. That first person doesn’t know how far it goes, they were just being generous.

One time, a girl handed our manager $20 to divide amongst the crew that night. There were only four, so each of us got $5. That girl didn’t get to see it, but everyone was excitedly talking about how we’re going to spend that $5. One guy said it was going to be his gas for the next three days until we get paid. She didn’t see it, but she made all of our nights so much better.

Another time, a girl complimented my name when I handed her food to her. She probably didn’t think much of it, but it was my chosen name, and I’d never been complimented on it, and was very stressed about being out at work.

Orphaned baby bats are often swaddled tightly like teeny burritos to mimic being cuddled by mom and help ease separation anxiety.

They also seem to find pacifiers soothing.

🍁 Also known as the fall equinox or Second Harvest

🍁 It occurs around September 21st and is the midway point between the summer solstice and the winter solstice

🍁 Herbs: rue, yarrow, rosemary, sage, frankincense

🍁 Animals: fox, owl, dog, wolf, stag, crow, squirrel

🍁 Crystals: amber, onyx, peridot, diamond, citrine, obsidian

🍁 Flowers: marigold, sunflowers, mums

🍁 Trees: aspen, cedar, maple, oak, pine, walnut

🍁 Colors: orange, red, brown, yellow

🍁 Incense: cinnamon, myrrh, frankincense, apple, sage

🍁 Decorations: autumn leaves, apples, pumpkins, skulls, corn, besom, acorns

🍁 Deities: Demeter, Ceres, Persephone

Maps! Maps! MAPS! If you're a death witch, get one for the cemeteries you visit and mark gravestones/areas you've practiced in! Garden witches! Map out your gardens! Green witches! Map where you find specific herbs in your area! Lunar witches! Mark the best spots to go look at the sky! Make a key! Take notes!

Recipes for COMPONENTS! Write down how to make the mixtures you use in spells often- A special salt mixed with herbs and put under the moon, a mixture of oils for protection, the herb mixes sachets you keep making to add to sachets, whatever!

For green witches- press samples of stuff and glue them in! Go to an arboretum and ask for permission to take leaves to press, they'll usually let you take some- add them in with your notes about trees

Cool ways to make spells! I make spells in envelopes and on empty spools, what are some ways you do?

The local plants in your area and what they do. You're not going to be likely to find chrysanthemums to forage in Missouri, but you will find creeping charlie and prairie plants. What can you do with a thistle?

When you celebrate a sabbat, write down what you did and include samples! Ribbons from your Beltane altar, a pressed sample of your lemmas harvest, a scrap of your Yule decorations. Maybe do a spell and tape the remnants into your grimoire in a plastic baggie

Learn how to make an envelope out of paper just by folding it, how to string seeds, how to dry plants, how to macrame rocks and hang them from your window. Find those little witchy skills and write them down.

How to incorporate your hobby into your magic. Sigiling origami paper, weaving knot magick into your crochet, making blessed bookmarks, etc

Substitutes! Rosemary, rose and clear quartz are good for most things, but there are more substitutes to be used that are more powerful. Roanoke bells are good substitutes for bluebells, apparently.

Correspondences of odd things. Turns out different kinds of cats have different correspondences, huh.

Superstitions and such from where you're from.

For kitchen witches: easy to alter recipes. An egg noodle recipe that takes herbs really well, a simple bread recipe that can be dressed up for spells or rituals, how to make a good pie crust that you can sprinkle nutmeg in or whatever you desire.

Lavender:

Antiseptic / anti-inflammatory properties. Useful for treating minor burns, anxiety, insomnia, bug bites & depression.

Rosemary:

Helps alleviate muscle pain, improves memory & concentration, boosts the immune & circulatory system and aids digestion.

Basil:

Supports digestion, liver function & helps detoxify the body. Aids depression, skin problems, diabetes & promotes a healthy gut.

Thyme:

Reduces blood pressure, preserves foods, supports yeast infections & treats skin problems.

Mint:

Speeds / eases digestion, relieves pain and discomfort from gas and bloating.

Sage:

High in nutrients & antioxidants, supports oral health, brain function & menopause, reduces blood sugar levels.

Lemon Balm:

Reduces stress / anxiety, promotes sleep, improves appetite, & eases pain and discomfort from indigestion.

Catnip:

Improves relaxation & boosts mood. Reduces anxiety, restlessness & nervousness.

Eucalyptus: