the january witch

collection of resources for making a spell - correspondences, tools, etc. disclaimer: i didn’t write any of these posts, i just compiled them in one place!

tools:

wands

athames/ritual daggers

besoms

mortar and pestle

casting a circle

spell jars

correspondences:

days of the week + hours 

moon phases

herbs/flowers correspondences masterpost

tarot in spells

if you don’t have witch ingredients

guide to the seven classical planets

color correspondences

when to cast a spell by time of day

common kitchen herbs

sound correspondences

writing the spell:

how to write a spell

actions in witchcraft

disposing of spell materials

methods for spells

how to create your own spells

more:

why your spells don’t work

dangerous herbs

before jinxing/hexing/cursing

spell worksheet

Apache tear 7 star anis seeds 7 inches gold ribbon 4 inch square yellow fabric

Place the stone in the center of the fabric, add the star any seeds one at a time while chanting:

One for luck Two for show Three for favor And four for honey Five for old And six for new Seven bring success In all that I do

Draw up the ends of the cloth and tie the pouch with the gold ribbon. carry the charm in your pocket or on your person for luck.

“Their Words Hold No Weight Over Me”

Watch me juggle these cups. 

Fall has always been my favorite season, especially after a long summer. The way the leaves change and everything just has this spooky ambiance to it. I like to think of fall as very introspective. Whereas summer and spring are more about growth and moving forward with something new, Fall for me is about celebrating death and the cycle of turning inward. 

Salt your doors and windows - I like to add an extra ‘layer’ of protection in the fall with all the extra spirit activity. I have overdone the salt on occasion so a small sprinkle will do. You don’t need a 3 inch thick line of salt that messes with the way your windows close. 

Tie up your herbs to dry through the winter - If I’m at a fresh market I like to pick up some herbs and dry them out for use in the season. You can even bundle them up with sage or add them to bathwater. 

DIY Candles - I have made SOME candles before but sometimes I just melt the tops of candles from the dollar store and toss in herbs and oils in the wax. You can even add crystal shards or charms that go with your intentions.

Make an apple pie (or pumpkin!) - I always try to make one good fall pie from scratch, pie crust and all. When I knead the crust I think about health and prosperity for my family.

Sweep your porch for prosperity - I do this in the summer too but keeping your porch clean of debris helps the funds flow in. 

Dry orange slices - This makes your place smell amazing. Dry some orange slices and keep them on hand for citrus cleansing baths throughout the fall. Citrus baths are especially good when you’re feeling that seasonal depression. 

Read tarot on Halloween - I always do a full reading for myself on Halloween to see what the new year brings in for me. 

Thoroughly cleanse your space - You don’t have to do this with incense. Especially if it’s cold. Just leave out bowls of water with a few Tablespoons of salt. Flush it down the toilet the next day with all the bad vibes.

Leave out offerings for ancestors - If you do ancestral offerings leave them out some apples, Whiskey, or anything they would have liked in their life.

Tidy up your spells - I try to do this a few times a year when I feel like I have too much going on. It helps me cleanse my mind and rethink all my priorities. 

Collect fall findings outside - Acorns, feathers, seeds, there are a lot of things you can find just by stepping outside that will help you along in your practice. 

Nature walks - Nature walks are also great for this. I once found a dead squirrel at a park and took it home to collect the skull. 

Make moon cookies - I love sugar cookies so sometimes I just use a glass and cut out moon phases with the dough and bake. 

Write or journal - Fall is a great time to sit by the fire or a cozy space in your house and dig into your own thoughts and just write out what you feel. 

Pick up a new witch book - My reading always gets more intense in the colder months. I think there’s just less to do and I always pick up the latest witch book to stay in the loop with what’s going on in the magical community. 

Brush up on meditation - Meditate when it’s freezing outside and warm up your inner core. Try having some relaxing hot tea beforehand. 

Record your dreams - We tend to sleep more in the fall/winter months so it’s a great time to start a dream journal. To help with remembering your dreams, sleep with your journal on your nightstand and write down anything you remember as soon as you wake up.

Thrift for witchy finds - Thrift stores are great in the fall. So much fun stuff can be found snooping around old thrift shops or even Goodwill. I’ve picked up the majority of my witch things second hand. 

Cast a fire spell in a bonfire - If you’re at a bonfire write a wish on a piece of paper and toss it in for a fun spell. 

“Endurance”

composed of food for the dead, tastes of resurrection and immortality, with gifts from messengers and doorkeepers of the spirit world.

1 part resins: cannabis, propolis, tamarack, thuja (1 tsp rough mix but heavy propolis and thuja)

1 part berries: elder, juniper (1/2 tsp each)

1/2 part roots/bark: (roasted) dandelion (1/4 tsp), elecampane (1/8 tsp), walnut wood (1/8 tsp)

3 parts leaf/flower: mugwort/silverwort (1 tsp), mullien (1/2 tsp), tansy (1/2 tsp), tobacco (1/2 tsp), wormwood (1/2 tsp)

A few drops red wine to moisten the herbal mix

1/2 part beeswax grated (1/2 tsp)

(parts by volume)

Roughly ground then melted and kneaded together over the woodstove or low heat and left to cure before burning as a “loose” incense over charcoal.

best made during the darker half of the year and considering auspicious timing aligned with Saturn, the Moon, and/or Mercury

Whatever form of divination you choose to practise, you will likely find that you feel tired once it’s over. This is normal and not something you need to worry about, but the fact it’s normal doesn’t mean that it is particularly nice! Aftercare is important. 

Here are some easy ways to help yourself feel more relaxed and rested and even invigorated post-divination!

REHYDRATE! This might seem like more of a general life tip, but if you feel drained, you need to make sure you’re hydrated. Dehydration causes exhaustion, clouded thought, bad moods and, in more severe cases, can make you very sick. DRINK YA’ WATER, WITCH.

NAP TIME! There’s no magical goodness in this, other than the magic that is sleep. If you need to sleep, then do it. Sleep is the body’s way of getting true rest, and during sleep the body recharges, recovers, and heals. 

HAVE A BATH OR SHOWER! Baths and showers are known to be relaxing, but for me I find that showers are more invigorating, whereas baths are relaxing and chill me out more. It’s likely different for different people. The heat of baths/showers will warm you and release any tension you’re holding. You can draw energy from the heat and cleanse yourself (physically and spiritually!) in the water. 

GET COMFORTABLE AND LISTEN TO MUSIC THAT LIFTS YOUR MOOD! Music does have some magical uses and connotations—such as the vibrations raising the energy of a space—but the main use of it here, is just to lift your spirits and make you happy. Sometimes, divination can be tough and music often has a way of helping us to unwind and feel better.

HOT BEVERAGES! Not everyone likes hot beverages, so this isn’t for everyone (if you are one of those people, don’t worry)! I often find that tea blends are best when it comes to post-divination stuff. Tea in itself is known to make people feel relaxed and more chilled out—I think hot drinks have that affect because they make us feel more comfortable and cosy. However! Tea is amazing because you can make your own blend and tailor it to whatever you need. Want to relax? Chamomile and Lavender! Want to feel more energised? Peppermint! Green! Ginger! 

MEDITATE/GROUND! Not everyone meditates, but for those who do, this can be a nice way to release any tension, ground yourself [click here for more information on grounding] after divining. Meditation and grounding can be particularly useful after intense sessions. 

EAT SOME GOOD FOOD! Get yourself some good, filling food! I find that my go-to post-divination food is usually something that is both fresh and filling, like a carb/veg/salad mix. It really is that simple! If your energy has been sapped by divining, you’re going to need to refuel.

DO SOMETHING THAT YOU ENJOY, THAT YOU CAN DO WITHOUT FEELING DRAINED! Some people may binge watch their favourite TV show. Some people may read a book. Some people may knit. Some people may go for a walk. Whatever activity you can enjoy without feeling as though it drains you and tires you out, do it. It’ll make you happy, feel energised, and shake everything off that needs to be YEETed away.

INCENSE AND OIL DIFFUSERS! Want to relax? Burn/diffuse some Lavender. Want to raise your energy? Burn/diffuse some citrus! 

OPEN A WINDOW! Fresh air can be one of the most refreshing and calming things in the world. Crack open a window. It’ll help. I promise. 

Great question, and I’m excited that you want to learn! It highly depends on your area, as each region has different plants. 

Apps:

Try seeking out reputable field guides that have been turned into apps. (Such as Peterson or Audubon). You may also find that different societies/whatever have created localized guides and turned them into apps.

There are a lot of Plant ID apps where you simply take a photo and it gives you it’s guesses. I haven’t personally used any, but they seem like a decent starting point if you have absolutely no clue. But please don’t use them as a sole identifier!

Edit: iNaturalist is a decent one because it has it’s first guess from whatever picture you submit, and then people review it and can either agree or disagree with your initial ID and provide their own.

Websites:

I look for websites that are created by government organizations, plant societies, museums, universities, field guide publishers, etc.

When trying to identify a plant, sometimes something as simple as googling “purple flower shrub ___ (your area)” and looking at the image results can help you out, then go to more reliable sources to fact check. 

I’d also recommend familiarizing yourself with botanical terms, or at least figuring them out each time you have a mystery plant you want to identify. (Think: leaf shapes, branching patterns--opposite, alternate, whorled, other?--, flower types, fruit types, etc.) This is a huge rabbit hole you can go down but those four things are very helpful for basic identification. 

Here are some search queries to try:

Wild plants of ___ (your area)

Native plants of ___ (your area)

Weeds of ___ (your area)

List of ___ (your area) plants

___ (your area) plant guide

Broaden the search if your area isn’t pulling up much. For example, I’m in Washington state so I might try “Pacific Northwest” or “West Coast” or even “North America” if desperate. 

Here’s some examples of decent sites for my region (WA/PNW):

(I got to all of these sites by using the search queries listed above btw)

Washington Native Plant Society

Burke’s Washington Flora Checklist (University of Washington Herbarium)

USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) Plant Database

University of Washington’s Directory of Recommended Links (lots of resources)

King County Native Plant Guide

Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board

Downloadable PDFs:

Northern Forest Atlases for woody plants, mosses and sedges.

Here are the plant guides I use the most:

Other plant guides (I’ve collected them over the years through used bookstores, there are likely newer editions):

Lots of libraries have field guides, I recommend borrowing them and seeing what formats work for you!

Samhain Witch Tips - 🎃 Pumpkins 🎃

Carving pumpkins is definitely not just for little kids. Carve sigils, spells, significant imagery, or anything you want into your pumpkin and fill it with your intention with each cut.

If you’re a closeted witch, carve your witchy stuff (sigils, spells etc) into the inside of the pumpkin, and make the outside just a fun design.

Anoint your tea light or votive candle with herbs and oils to match your intention for the season or year. I personally like to make a couple of these and have them lit while I carve as well as use them in the pumpkin/jack-o-lantern.

Before setting your candle into your pumpkin, sprinkle the insides with herbs that match your intentions and maybe some that have some anti-microbial action as well to help your pumpkin last longer before rotting. Cinnamon and cloves are great for this. The warmth from your candle will release your intentions as well as a lovely scent.

If you want to really absorb all the lovely goodness of the work you’ve put into carving this pumpkin, buy a pie pumpkin (sometimes called sugar pumpkin) carve it the night or day before your Samhain celebration, only use safe, culinary herbs inside and keep an unscented candle lit in it (make sure you only use either a soy or beeswax candle with a cotton, unleaded wick,) and the next day you can roast it in the oven (350*F for about an hour usually does it, or until it’s soft enough to easily sink a fork into) And then share this lovely squash with your spirit friends, witchy friends, family etc at your Samhain meal. 

Pumpkins and all other winter squash actually keep for a very long time if stored properly. So you can buy a bunch from a farmers market now while they’re in season. Give them a rinse in a diluted bleach and water solution to kill off any mold spores that might cause premature rotting. Then make them part of your Samhain decor to imbue them with your good intentions and then store them in a garage or somewhere else that stays between 50-60*F and you’ll have delicious, enchanted squash all season long! I’ve had some last for up to 4 months before.

Enjoy this lovely seasonal fruit and may it nourish you all season long 

Additional note!!

Activities

Put up wards to keep out unwanted spirits

Put jars of salt by your door to protect your home

Sprinkle some salt in your mouth right before you go to bed to protect your dreams

Light candles to help guide spirits

Tell stories of dead relatives and friends

Write about the dead in your book of shadows

Give offerings to your ancestors

Pray at your altar

Cleanse your space with incense

Drink hot drinks

Bake bread or pies

Add fall recipes to your book of shadows

Paint and decorate pumpkins

Contact spirits through divination

Ask for advice from your ancestors

Be thankful for the food you have

Dust and tidy your altar

Look at pictures of deceased loved ones

Dress in fall colors

Go for a walk in nature, observe the leaves turning. Consider the cycles of life and death that govern our world.

Light a bonfire/small fire (safely!) and burn papers with things that no longer serve you, that you cannot afford to take into winter.

Make an offering to your deities or ancestors

Make food with seasonal ingredients symbolic of the final harvest: squashes, pumpkins, grains, apples, spices. Even wine, if you’re allowed to drink.

Prepare your home and yourself for the coldest part of the year. Redo protection spells, clean out clutter, develop sustaining spells for winter.

Reflect on the past year. What did you lose? What people left your life, what things no longer hold meaning for you? How did you change as a person?

Work with various forms of divination, like runes, pendulums, tea leaves, or tarot.

If you do work with ouija boards you better be SUPER DUPER careful. Do not neglect protections, and if you feel uncomfortable, stop, protection spells and cleanse, cleanse, cleanse.

Give some time or money to a cause you’re passionate about. If your harvest is abundant, give back to those who were not so fortunate.

Colors

Black

Orange

Brown

Gold

Scarlet

Animals

Bat

Boar

Cat

Cow

Dog

Crow

Crystals

Jet

Obsidian

Amber

Carnelian

Fossils

Onyx

Sandstone

Turquoise

Bloodstone

Herbs and Flowers

Acorn

Angelica

Broom

Catnip

Deadly Nightshade

Dittany

Hazel

Heather

Mandrake

Mugwort

Oak leaves

Sage

Straw

Wormwood

Trees

Apple

Beech

Blackthorn

Locust

Pomegranate

Willow

Witch Hazel

Yew

Foods

Soul bread (I recommend putting something on it, it can be bland)

Roast turkey or chicken

Venison

Rice

Cod

Sea Bass

Lamb

Duck

Scallops

Oysters

Mussels

Apples

Pears

Grapes

Citrus

Pomegranate

Eggplant

Tomato

Fig

Brussel Sprouts

Kale

Pumpkin

Squash

Mushroom

Broccoli

Plumbs

Cranberries

Ginger

Peaches

Cabbage

Key limes

Passion Fruit

Radishes

Chestnuts

Beets

Fruit Pies

Fruit Cobblers

Apple Cake

Spice Cakes

Apple Cider

Hard Cider

Pumpkin spice Latte

Hot Cocoa

Apple Juice

Adult Appel Juice (wine)

Mulled Wine

Mulled Cider

Grape Juice

Chai Tea or Latte

Herbal Teas

Deities

Arawn

Belenus

Dagda

Hades

Loki

Odin

Pluto

Badb

Banba

Cailleach

Durga

Hecate

Hel

Inanna

Ishtar

Kali

Morrigan

Rhiannon

Horned God

Spells

Write a list of things you want to release and burn it

Light candles to help guide and honor spirits

Practice Spirit work

Samhain Divination

Family Meals with a place for the dead

Meditate and Reflect

Other names

All Saints Day

All Hallows Eve

Halloween

Incense/EO

Sage

Pumpkin

Patchouli

Myrrh

Straw

Flax

Wheat

Corn

Rosemary

Nutmeg