opalite and moss

I’ve got an ongoing list of things to do with a blank notebook or journal (because I can’t stop buying them), and I’ve pulled out the ones that I think might be of interest to magical, witchy, or pagan types. Hopefully, if you guys find yourselves stuck in front of that first blank page, there’ll be something here to inspire you!

Some of these examples have links or descriptions to further elaborate on what I pictured when I put them on the list, but don’t feel boxed in by any of these! Always feel free to think outside of the box.

Used in curing warts – “A schoolteacher in Barry county, Missouri, believes that the best way to get rid of warts is to rub them with a green bean leaf until each wart looks green and then go to bed without washing your hands. Another common theory is that it is only necessary to touch a wart with nine beans and then throw the beans one at a time over the right shoulder.” ~Randolph OMF 129

“Cure a wart by rubbing a kidney bean on it, and it will go away.” ~Parler FBA III 3536

“…a green bean leaf rubbed on a wart several times a day will cure a wart.” ~Parler FBA III 3537

“To remove a wart, cut a bean in half. Throw half away, rub the wart with the other half, put it under a rock and don’t look back at the rock.” ~Parler FBA III 3567

“Take beans and rub over warts, throw the beans into a well, and the warts will go away.” ~Parler FBA III 3568

“Bruise string bean leaves, rub on wart, secretly hide leaves under an old brick, when leaves rot the warts disappear.” ~Parler FBA III 3569

White lima bean for fever – “To cure a fever, split a big white lima bean and place it over each temple. This kills the fever.” ~Parler FBA II 2219

Superstitions about beans - “It is an old item of British folklore that beans contain the souls of the departed. In folk art the bean shape is frequently associated with death…The superstitions of Britain were carried into the Ozarks in the early days and continued as a part of the folkways…” ~Rayburn OFE A-1 “Accidents”

Parler, Mary Celestia Folk Beliefs from Arkansas (FBA)

Randolph, Vance Ozark Magic and Folklore (OMF)

When writing a spell, I like to go through the who, what when, where, why, and how of the spell. 

“Who” is the target/recipient of the spell. In my case it is usually myself.

“What” is the objective/s of the spell.

“When” is the time frame of the spell. I include starts, ends, and any times it is to recur. These can be “when requirements x, y, z are met”.

“Where” is simply enough the location/s. May be tied to an individual.

“Why” gives you a nice reminder of the spell’s purpose, and can avoid spells backfiring ironically by “working” but against their ultimate purpose. This may be a good time to reflect on your rede or other moral code, and add a “clause” to keep your spell working within it.

“How” refers to the “route” which you want your spell to take, but also what energy will be used to power the spell.

A tarot spread born entirely out of being paralyzed with fear, and not even knowing why. 

If you find yourself in a similar position, trust me, you’re not alone. And if you like to read the cards for yourself, then I highly recommend this spread.

The first card illuminates the source of fear.

The second card shows you what this fear is creating in your life.

The third card shows you what it’s destroying in your life.

The fourth card is guidance for how you can banish this fear.

And the fifth and sixth cards give you some insight into what this fear can teach you - or, put another way, gives you new “eyes” with which to see this fear as you go forward.

I ain’t afraid of no ghost.

The Serpent Sigil

While serpents ordinarily rule over life/death/rebirth, fertility and the dichotomy of “good/evil” and light/dark, wishes need not be confined to these parameters – apply instead the concept of the kundalini,the force of desire. || for more information on my use of the serpent, see Feeding the Black Serpent ||

A Few Uses

The Wishing Serpent: To use, simply write your desire, beginning where the neck of the serpent meets the head. If you choose to recreate the sigil in favor of printing (when this sigil is used at its exact size, the “uncoiled” measures around 3 feet), ensure there is room to complete your desire. Cut along the lines, which should leave you with a long, serpent ribbon. This is best performed outside, though it may be done inside away from flammables over a large-mouth bowl. Using a candle placed on the ground (of a fitting color – red works as a default), allow the tail of the serpent to catch, holding the snake by its head, allow it to burn from the bottom to the top. If used inside, scatter the ashes to the wind, otherwise they have already been aptly scattered. 

The Healing Serpent: Utilizing much of the same procedure as above, write the name of he/she you wish to heal 7 or 9 times upon the face of the sigil – again, starting from the neck of the serpent. Cut along the lines. Coil the serpent back and flip it over, on the reverse, write 3, 7, or 9 times the name of nature of their ailment(s). Using a black, white or red candle, perform the same process as above – reading the prayer:

Coiled serpent, now –  Unwound – Behest:  My bidding, go about  The soil, Viper tongue splayed – Oh, Black Serpent, Recant the poisoned- Tooth venom, And devour that sickness That you hath cast, Recant – by witch’s will –  And feed it to the forge.

The Witches’ Watch: Should an event arise that calls for a timed ritual, this serpent might serve as time-keeper –such as for opening the realms, crossroads work, evocations, invocations and possessions. Simply cut along the lines and drive a piece of cotton cord or thread through the head of the serpent and hang it in a safe place. When you are ready to begun your working, ignite the tail with your working candle – burn times vary based on paper used, circulation, temperature, etc. I recommend trying a test burn using the same paper and location, to get a general idea of your time frame. Play with the size of the sigil to shorten or lenthen your working time.

The Poison Serpent: On the face of the sigil, write out your unsavory desires, perhaps something to the extent of: “May the poison serpent rot the flesh and mind.” On the reverse, write your victim’s name nine times, beginning not at the neck, but at the tail. This pairs the elevation of your desire (over your victim) with the symbol of their force of will (to fight) being eaten away as the serpent is devour by the flame and freed into the aether. Collect the ashes and blend with sulphur powder, a poisonous plant of your choosing (ideally one that’s symptoms match the nature of your desire), iron oxide (optional) and bone dust (optional). 

Holiday Witch Ball Ornaments 

What’s a more inconspicuous way to add witchcraft to the holiday season than by combining the well-known concept of Witch Balls with widely used ornaments? Add the following ingredients to either clear, glass ornaments (so they can be charged by compliments) or to solid ornaments (to be even more unnoticeable) for the desired effects.

Family Peace:

lavender buds

two sprigs of thyme

dried cilantro

rose buds

Festivity:

three vanilla bean pods

whole allspice

dried tangerine or orange peels

sprig of pine

Love Drawing:

crushed rose petals

dried jasmine

dried lime peels

granulated sugar

glitter

New Year Prosperity:

whole chamomile flowers

one cinnamon stick

pine needles

“I have time to write” sigil

8 days of NaNoWriMo sigils, day three | two | one

You can find the rest of my sigils here. Sigil requests are open!

A Mercury Retrograde Tarot Spread

1. Signifier: Mercury Retrograde  - Place The Magician reversed in the center of your spread to represent Mercury moving backwards.

​2. Artifact - What is Mercury dredging up for me in this retrograde period?

3. Affect - How is it (the “what” represented by card #2) affecting me?

4. Signifier: Action - What would I like to do with this pattern/energy/baggage/what-have-you?

Cross the reversed Magician with: The Hierophant to learn from or teach something, Justice to set something right, Death to lay something to rest and move on, Temperance to integrate and balance past and present, or The Sun to rekindle something.

5. Lesson - What do I have to learn from it now? ​ 6. Resolution - How can I best resolve it? What strategies can I draw on to learn from it, set it right, lay it to rest, integrate it, or rekindle it? Notes The signifiers are optional. I know some folks are averse to consciously choosing and placing cards in a spread. If that’s you, no worries, you can skip the center cross.

You do, however, need to consciously decide what you want to do with the pattern you’re examining here in order to know what question card #6 addresses. It takes different strategies to rekindle a forgotten talent than it does to lay an old blockage to rest. For this reason, I recommend that you draw cards 4-6 only after you’ve drawn and analyzed cards 1-3.

You can use this spread anytime you’re feeling haunted by your own past. It doesn’t need to be a Mercury Retrograde to ask the same basic questions. Just use a personal significator, upright, for card #1, and ask, “what old pattern is haunting me?” or “what past baggage is on my case now?” for card #2.