My Journey

Like herbs, oils, and crystals, you don’t need to work with magical timing for your spell to be successful. You can cast a spell at any time, no matter your intention, and get your desired results. However, working with the energy of the sun, moon, and days of the week can add an extra power boost to your magic.

Think of it this way: certain energies are dominant at certain times. Those energies are easier to connect with because they are closer at hand, so to speak, so you can bring them into your life and your spells more easily and in a more powerful way. That doesn’t mean you can’t call on other energies during these times — it just means that you may not connect to them quite so easily.

If you choose to work with magical timing in your spells, there are several yearly, monthly, weekly, and even daily cycles you can align your spells with.

The Cycle of the Sun: Solstices and Equinoxes

These are the turning points that mark the solar year, and are associated with the relationships between day and night, light and dark, summer and winter. Each solstice or equinox marks the end of one season and the beginning for the next. Because they are so rare and so potent, these days are a great time for your “big picture” spells or for spells that need a big power boost.

Winter Solstice. The winter solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year, and falls between December 20 and December 23, depending on the year. In some pagan traditions the winter solstice, or Yule, marks the beginning of the new year — you may choose to set intentions for the coming year on this solstice. After the winter solstice, the nights start getting shorter and the days start getting longer — so spells related to healing and bringing things into the light are especially effective at this time of year. The winter solstice marks the end of the “dark half” of the year and beginning of the “light half” of the year; at this point, our focus turns from inward reflection to outward manifestation. You may choose to think of the time between the winter solstice and spring equinox as a “planning phase,” where you examine yourself and your desires, decide what you want to work on in the next year, and make plans for manifesting what you want.

Spring Equinox. An equinox occurs when the day and the night are exactly the same length, representing a perfect balance between light and dark. The spring equinox marks the beginning of spring and occurs between March 19 and March 22. The Christian holiday of Easter and the pagan holiday of Ostara are both related to the energy of this equinox. At this time of year, the natural world is coming back to life as winter begins to fade. Plants are beginning to grow, and baby animals are being born. This is a powerful time of year for fertility magic and any magic related to new beginnings. You may choose to think of the time between the spring equinox and the summer solstice as a “planting phase,” where you “plant the seed” of the things you want to manifest and begin doing the work to make it happen.

Summer Solstice. This solstice marks the longest day and shortest night of the year. It occurs between June 19 and June 23. As I am writing this post, we are coming up on the summer solstice (June 20, 2020). Life, fertility, and growth are at their peak during this time of year, which makes this solstice a perfect time for big manifestation spells. At the same time, this marks the end of the “light half” and beginning of the “dark half” of the year, so after the summer solstice our energy shifts from outward manifestation to inward contemplation. You may choose to think of the time between the summer solstice and fall equinox as the “harvest phase,” where you reap the results of your hard work and manifest your desires in the physical world.

Autumn Equinox. This is the other time of year when the day and night are perfectly balanced. The autumn equinox occurs between September 19 and September 23 and marks the beginning of autumn. This is traditionally the time of year when crops are harvested, and many pagan groups celebrate harvest festivals around this time. Nature is beginning to die or go into hibernation in preparation for the coming winter. This is an especially powerful time of year for shadow work or for magic related to endings and transitions. You may choose to think of the time between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice as the “reflection phase,” when you retreat from the outside world to rest, focus on yourself, and do your inner work and self-healing.

Important Note: This post lists dates for the solstices and equinoxes in the Northern hemisphere. In the Southern hemisphere, the seasons are reversed. If you live in the Southern hemisphere, you would observe the winter solstice in June, the spring equinox in September, the summer solstice in December, and the fall equinox in March.

The Cycle of the Moon: Lunar Phases

If you don’t have time to wait for the appropriate solstice or equinox, you can still connect with the cosmos in your magic. One of the biggest pros of the lunar cycle is that it happens roughly every month — so you never have to wait very long for the next full moon. The moon is also associated with magic and spirituality in several traditions, which makes it an especially powerful astral ally for witches.

New Moon. The new moon is when the moon is completely invisible in the night sky, and is the phase opposite the full moon. The new moon is a powerful time for shadow work (because it deals with things that are hidden) and for magic related to new beginnings.

Waxing Moon. The moon is waxing when it appears to be growing in the night sky; this is the phase between the new moon and full moon. This is a powerful time for any magic that deals with drawing something in, building something up, or strengthening something that already exists.

Full Moon. Many witches believe that the full moon is the most powerful time of month for any kind of magic. This is a good time to cast any spell that needs a serious power boost. The full moon is also an especially powerful time to release what no longer serves you or to work healing magic.

Waning Moon. The moon is waning when it appears to be shrinking in the night sky; this is the phase between the full moon and new moon. This is a powerful time for any magic that deals with sending something away, banishing negative energy, or bringing something to an end.

Dark Moon. The dark moon is the three day period immediately before the new moon. In some traditions, it is believed to be bad luck to cast spells during the dark moon. Other traditions hold that the dark moon is the best point in the lunar cycle for destructive magic, such as curses and hexes. Many modern witches don’t recognize the dark moon as a separate moon phase at all. I personally like to use the dark moon as a time for self reflection, and may focus on shadow work during this time.

Magical Correspondences for the Days of the Week

The days of the week also have their own unique magical energies, and each day is linked to a certain planet and to certain deities.

Sunday. Sunday is, of course, connected to the Sun and solar deities. Sunday is the best day of the week for any manifestation magic that needs an extra boost. Its energy is also associated with healing, personal growth, power, and success.

Monday. Monday is associated with the Moon and lunar deities. Monday is a quiet, introspective day, and can feel very ethereal. It’s the best day for magic related to intuition, nurturing, and shadow work.

Tuesday. Tuesday is associated with Mars and with gods and goddesses of war and action. (It is named for the Norse/Germanic god Tyr/Tiw.) Tuesday is a very “active” day, and is good for magic related to action, activism, victory, or finding courage.

Wednesday. Wednesday is associated with Mercury and with gods and goddesses of wisdom, learning, and communication. (It is named for the Norse/Germanic god Odin/Wodan.) Wednesday is all about mental activity. It’s the best day of the week for magic related to thought, travel, communication (written, spoken, or digital), and learning/study.

Thursday. Thursday is associated with Jupiter and with gods and goddesses of prosperity, wealth, and protection. (It is named after the Norse/Germanic god Thor.) Thursday, like Jupiter in astrology, is all about outward expansion. It’s the best day of the week for magic related to career, prosperity, and wealth.

Friday. Friday is associated with Venus and with gods and goddesses of love, fertility, and sensuality. (It is named after the Norse goddess Freyja, or perhaps the goddess Frigg.) The energy of Friday is fun, lighthearted, and sexy. It’s the best day of the week for magic related to love, beauty, and sex/sexuality.

Saturday. Saturday is associated with Saturn and with time and wisdom. (The day and the planet are both named after the Roman god Saturn.) Saturday is practical and wise, but it does have a little bit of a dark side. It’s the best day of the week for magic related to banishing and protection.

Magical Times of Day

Okay, so you’d like to start working with magical timing, but what about emergency magic and last-minute spells? What if you don’t have time to wait for the next full moon, or even the next Sunday? You can still align your spell with magical timing! There are several moments of power each day, and each has its own magical associations.

Sunrise. Sunrise is, of course, the birth of the new day. This makes it the perfect time for spells related to new beginnings or expanded possibilities.

Noon. This is the peak or high point of the day. This is a powerful time for healing magic.

Sunset. Sunset is the end of the day, and forms a gateway between light and dark. This is a great time for spells related to accepting endings, releasing that which does not serve, and moving on from the past.

Midnight. If noon is the peak of the day, then midnight is the peak of the night. Midnight has a very ethereal, transformational energy. Like with the full moon, some witches believe that any spell will be more powerful if cast at midnight. This is a powerful time for both banishing and attraction magic.

Resources:

You Are Magical by Tess Whitehurst

Green Witchcraft by Paige Vanderbeck

Wicca for Beginners by Thea Sabin [specifically the chapter on the sabbats]

These are to be used as a supplement in addition to professional medical care, treatment and medication, not as a sole alternative! If you are dealing with extreme, unexplained symptoms please see a doctor.

Spells:

Spell

Bath spell

Banishing cramps

The best ‘lil spell

Spell bottle

Relief spell jar

Self care spell jar

Anti-migraine spell

Peace out period spell

Visualization for cramps

To make your period lighter

Period pain relief spell/ritual

Sigils:

Keep pain away

Relief from cramps

Ease period pains

I do not have my period

Fuck off, period dysphoria

My period is not painful

Teas: 

(Please research herbs before using them).

For cramps

Also for cramps

A collection

Some helpful herbs

Some more helpful herbs

Menstruation dysphoria tea

Some helpful PSAs on herbs

Resources for researching herb safety

Other posts you may find helpful:

Taking advantage of your period

Menstrual magic

More menstrual magic

Crystals to help

Witchy period hacks

An earlier version of this post (with mundane tips)

Chronic migraine relief

Bedridden witch series

Sick witchery

Chronically ill witchcraft: For your symptoms

Magic to replenish energy

Gender magic (with a section on dysphoria) 

I’d like to request that you keep gender out of any comments that you make on this. People of various gender identities get periods (or don’t), lets be inclusive here!

The Compass Spread

A perfect spread for finding some guidance, when you are feeling lost.

Central - You right now

East - New beginnings, what's on the horizon.

South - Your Passion, where you should draw your fire from.

West - Your Subconscious. What are you keeping hidden? Where do you need to look inward?

This is a spell I created for those who wake up early in the morning and want to cast a positive energy over their day! I work in the morning and always light a candle when I do so, so I started saying this spell and it really improved my morning hours. I hope this can be helpful to you!

You will need:

A candle of your choice 

Matches 

Good intentions!

Steps:

 Charge the candle by holding it into your hands and focusing your positive intentions for the day. You can imagine success during the day, a feeling of peace or comfort, etc. When you feel you’ve thought of all you could, get your match.

You can use your match as a ‘petition paper’ substitute for those who do not want to burn paper or for people who live in a dorm room (like me!). Using a pen or marker to write a word on a match that summarizes the energy you want to bring into your day today. I usually write ‘happiness’ or ‘love’. 

Strike your match and light your candle, visualizing your intent. Say the following spell aloud as you light the candle:

I bless this day ahead  With this fiery candlelight With this flame, my intentions living With this match, they ignite From the moment I wake To the second I sleep May happiness be mine to keep 

So tarot card questions are actually a lot different than asking a specific question. You wouldn’t say, for example, “Is my dad going to graduate?” because if you got the 3 of cups, you would be utterly confused as to why I did not provide a yes or a no. So below I am going to list questions that are good to ask the cards. 

• I’m at a fork in the road. Which way should I go?

• How do I weigh out the choices I have? What are the Pros and Cons?

• What do I need to know to make the best decision? What do I need to know?

• What do I need to know about a situation with a family member?

• What do I need to know about my love life?

• What do I need to know about my career?

Moving forward

• How do I move forward in my career?

• How do I move forward in my relationship/ love life?

• What is coming forth in my life?

• Which foundation is the strongest to build on in my life?

* What should I do?

• What should/ shouldn’t I do about a situation with my job?

• What should/ shouldn’t I do about a situation with a friend or family member?

• How can I restore my hope for the future?

• What overall positives do I bring to my life?

• What positives do the people in my life provide me?

• Is there meaning in my life?

• Is there love in my life? Hidden Elements

• Are there things I am ignoring that are important?

• What am I not seeing?

• What is holding me back?

• Are there truths that I am denying?

• Are there things that I see that are untrue?

• What important things have I forgotten?

• What could get in my way?

• What is most important for me to get done?

• How will a certain occasion or event turn out?

• What will be the best way for me to communicate with certain people?

• What should I learn from my past?

• What is the impending future telling me?

• What cycles am I stuck in?

• What have a learned from my past?

• Where am I strongest?

• What should I look out for?

A spread based on how your being is doing, how to learn more self-love, and what your heart wants you to know! I would suggest using this spread when you really need your heart’s advice.

tea elements

green tea - water

rose rooibos - fire

lavender grey tea - earth

Charcoal is what is left over after burning wood in a fire or other plant material that has been used in not only witchcraft but medicine and art for centuries. This ingredient is often a well forgotten or overlooked one, but it is truly an easy obtainable ingredient to harness for your craft.

The Basics

Elements: Charcoal is often related to 3 main elements- Fire, Earth and Air. Often it is related to earth due to the charcoal being created from wood, air due to the porous light nature and its relation to smoke and to fire due to fire being the energy that creates and transforms it. Though often most associate charcoal with fire.

Correspondences: Unity, Purification, Banishing, Cleansing, Protection, Warding, Concentration

Colors: Black, Gray, Ashen White

The History of Charcoal Use

In Witchcraft

In witchcraft charcoal was often used for ink making to write in grimoires by mixing the charcoal (or ash) with water and vinegar. Sticks of charcoal were used for drawing, inscribing and warding. Crushed charcoal would be mixed into salt to create black salt and casted about the home or property to absorb negative energies and ward against negative entities. Lining windows or doorways with charcoal dust was said to keep away illness and misfortune and cleanse those who entered the home.

In Medicine

Charcoal has been used in medicine for centuries, some of the latest uses dating to the times of Pharaohs in Ancient Egypt. In ancient times it was often used to prevent wounds from festering by pressing charcoal into the wound and wrapping it with clothe. Egyptians and Native Americans both have history of grinding up charcoal into dust to mix with water (or milk) to drink to cure a number of ailments including food poisoning, influenza, stomach cramping and other digestive issues.

Throughout Europe charcoal was used as a ‘cure all’ for numerous ailments including epilepsy, seizures, contraception and infection. Though charcoal definitely isn’t a cure all, it was popularly used to help settle upset stomachs, calm vomiting and aid in digestion. Later several doctors discovered the use of charcoal to counteract poisons by ingesting it with a poison, greatly nullifying the effects of the poison making them minimal in nature. During the 1800s was when activated charcoal became the main type of charcoal used for medical purposes.

Modern Uses of Charcoal

In Witchcraft

Modernly, charcoal is still used for many of the same things. Witches of all kinds use charcoal for sigil drawing and for circle casting and a sorted few still use charcoal to create ink and paint for their grimoires and spell writing.

Black Salt is still popularly made by witches by mixing salt with charcoal (1:1). Black salt is used to absorb negative energy, banish out negative entities and to ward against unwanted guests entering your home. Black salt is often used to line entry points of the home or the outlines of the property to ward and to cleanse a room or home spreading it about the home then sweeping or vacuuming it up after about an hour is the popular technique. Often charcoal is used in sachet spells to help boost their energy and prevent them from getting ‘dirtied’ by negative energy too quickly similar to adding salt to a spell sachet or even jar spells. It can also be placed or used in a spell to represent the element of fire or upon an altar for the same purpose.

In Cosmic Witchcraft it is common to use charcoal to align with the planet Saturn and sometimes Jupiter. Often it is used in spells related to justice, cleansing and ridding oneself of negativity. The blackness of charcoal can also be used to represent the blackness of the night sky itself or to represent black holes in negativity removal spells.

In Bath magick it is popular to use charcoal face masks, charcoal soap or charcoal bath salts to help cleanse oneself and remove negative energies tied to them. Glamor spells using charcoal often are for concealment and to vanish from the gaze of those who you wish not to see you such as protection at night or protection from judgement. In these cases charcoal is often added to sachets or small travel jar spells for invisibility or used for drawn sigils held on the person.

Artist’s charcoal can be used to replace standard charcoal in spells such as making black salt or for the purpose of sigil making. Though artist’s charcoal should never be used in cases of bath magick or to be ingested due to safety reasons. Grilling charcoal should never be used in place of natural charcoal due to it being often mixed with gasoline or other lighting fluids. It is not safe to get onto the skin and certainly not to ingest under any circumstances.

Medical Purposes

Charcoal is still used today for medical uses of calming stomachs and easing digestive issues though mostly activated charcoal is used now. One should not ingest wood charcoal straight from a fire! Especially not if lighter fluid or kerosine was used in the fire. If one wishes to use charcoal for medical use at home purchase it properly from a pharmacy. Charcoal is still used in hospitals for its properties of absorbing toxins ingested such as when a person has alcohol poisoning or believed to have ingested poisons, this again tends to be a mix of activated charcoal.

Health and Beauty

Acorn - Good luck, personal power, protection and wisdom. Dried acorns are a natural amulet for youthfulness. It's associated with the Sabbat of Litha and the element of water.

Angelica - Also called Archangel. It is a very powerful protection herb, healing, creates harmony and courage and helps in exorcisms. Aids vision. Element Air.

Apple - Garden magic, love, healing and wisdom, also vanity, marriage and beauty. Associated Mabon & Samhain. Element water.

Basil - Also called witches herb. Use in spells for Love, exorcism, wealth, sympathy, and protection. Associated with Imbolc. Aids astral projection. Element Fire.

Bay Leaf - Protection, success, purification, strength, wisdom and healing, also increases psychic powers. Element Fire.

Belladonna - Also Called: Deadly Nightshade. Toxic. Use for forgetting past loves. Protection, beauty and original flying ointments. Adds energy to rituals. Element Water.

Bergamot - Money, prosperity and sleep. Protects from both evil and illness. Good for luck and wealth. Increases magical power. Element Fire.

Black Pepper - Banishing negativity, exorcism, and offers protection and help with inner strength. Element Fire.

Blueberry - Protection of children, keeps evil out, and strengthens the aura. Associated with the Great Spirit. Element Water.

Calendula - Also called Marigold. Attracts success and justice in legal matters. Increases psychic/spiritual powers and aid prophetic dreams. Dispels negativity. Element Fire.

Cardamom - Lust, love, and fidelity. Sweetens the personality Use in handfastings. Element Water.

Chamomile - Love, sleep, protection and purification, also reduce stress. Use for meditation work and to attract money. Solar Magic. Element Water.

Cinnamon - Also called Sweet Wood. Use for Solar magic. Meditation and astral projection. Increases spirituality, success, healing, protection, power, luck, strength, and prosperity. Element Fire.

Clove - Use to protect, banish negative forces, and divination. Also helps with any teeth spells. Aids money and draws love. Element Fire.

Dandelion Root - Magical uses include divination, wishes and calling spirits. It also enhances dreams and works well in astral projection. Element Air.

Evening Primrose - Ideal for moon magic. Also use in love charms and to attract fae. Element Water.

Ginger - Increases magic power. Success, love, money and power. Element Fire.

Hibiscus - Attracting love and lust. Use in divination. Associated with lunar magic. Element Water.

Horsetail - Use for strength and resolve. Protection, cleansing and clearing unwanted emotions. Element Earth.

Jasmine - The herb of attraction. Helps prophetic dreaming, money and love. Element Water.

Lavender - Magical uses include healing, sleep and peace. It also promotes chastity and love. Increases longevity of life, tranquility and happiness. Element Air.

Lemon Balm - Also called Melissa. Love, success and healing. Aids psychic/spiritual development. Supports mental health disorders and compassion. Element Water.

Lemon Grass - Psychic cleansing and opening. Use in lust potions and when using Dragon Magic. Element Air.

Lime Tree Leaf - Healing, calm and love. Aids strength and tranquility, Element Air.

Marjoram - Use for cleansing, purification, and dispelling negativity. Also aids grief and sadness. Element Air.

Mint - Promotes energy, communication and vitality, protection and draws custom. Element Air.

Mugwort - Use for strength, protection and healing. Mugwort amplifies magic. Aids astral projection, and psychic power. Element Earth.

Nettle - Uses include dispelling darkness & fear,and curse breaking. Healing and protection and increases lust in partners. Renewal. Element Fire.

Orange Peel & Flower- Attracts abundance, luck. Love and happiness and strengthens divination. Element Fire.

Passion Flower - Attracts friendship and passion. Caming, peace and instills passion into stale relationships. Good for house blessings too. Element Water.

Patchouli - Used in spells for connecting with spirits. Money attracting, increases fertility and lust. Calming and peaceful. Element Earth.

Peppermint - Use for headaches and other forms of healing. Increases sleep and love. Use for increasing psychic power and divination. Element Air.

Rose - Use for divination, increased psychic power, love, lust and healing. Helps strengthen close friendships. Place around sprains and bruises to help them heal faster. Element Water.

Rosemary - Use in healing poppets and love/lust spells. Improves memory. Increases sleep, mental power and protection. Burn to help purification and removing negativity. Associated with faery magic. Element Fire.

Sage - Used for self purification and cleansing. Helps grief and loss. Healing and protection, also increases wisdom. Element Air.

Strawberry Leaf - Attracts success, good fortune, and favorable circumstances. Increases love and aids pregnancy. Element Water.

Thyme - Attracts loyalty, affection, and love. Increases good luck and psychic power. Drink in tea to aid sleep. Element Air.

Verbena - Psychic protection, peace and purification. Healing and helps depression. Increases beauty and love. Mind opening and clearing. Ideal use for exams. Element Earth.

Willow - is Used for lunar magic, drawing or strengthening love, healing, and overcoming sadness.. Element Water.

From the Herbal Grimoire by the blog The Wiccan Lady. Here's the link to the blog for the complete list and further reading:

There’s an awful lot of posts/websites that have lists of herbs by name which is great if you want the correspondences of lavender but not so great if you’re looking for herbs that correspond with health. So here:

ANIMAL MAGICK:

Catnip, Peppermint, Valerian

ASTRAL PROJECTION:

Cinnamon, Jasmine, Mugwort

BEAUTY:

Lavender, Rose, Catnip, Orange

CALMNESS:

Cypress, Vanilla

CONCENTRATION:

Rose, Rosemary, Thistle, Dill, Orchid

CONFIDENCE:

Cedar, Dill, Geranium, St. John’s Wort, 

CLARITY:

Lavender, Cypress, Clover, Rosemary

CLEANSING:

Lemon, Clover, Sage, Lilac, Cedar

DREAMS:

Peppermint

EMOTIONAL HEALING:

Cypress

EMOTIONAL OPENNESS:

Orange, Orange Blossom

FERTILITY:

Sunflower, Olive, Poppy, Daffodil, Oak, Honey

FEMININE ENERGY:

Daisy, Maple, Poppy, Rose, Thyme, Blackberry

FIDELITY:

Nutmeg

FRIENDSHIP:

Lemon, Sweet pea, Passion Flower

GOOD MEMORY:

Rosemary, Clove

GROUNDING:

Coffee

HAPPINESS:

Lavender, Catnip, St John’s Wort, Peppermint, Oregano, Saffron, Honey

HARMONY:

Orange, Orange Blossom

HEALING:

Lemon, Cypress, Allspice, Saffron, Cinnamon, Cedar, Thyme, Violet, Spearmint, Peppermint, Sunflower

HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS:

Vanilla

HOPE:

Chamomile

JUSTICE:

Nutmeg, Violet

LONGEVITY:

Lemon, Cypress, Acorn, Sage

LOVE:

Lavender, Violet, Apple, Chamomile,Saffron, Cinnamon, Clove, Clover, Lemon, Juniper, Peppermint, Rose, Rosemary, Vanilla, Strawberry, Rue, Ginger, Mistletoe, Thyme, Maple, Spearmint, Willow, Orange, Orange Blossom, Sugar Cane

LOYALTY:

Thyme

LUCK:

Vanilla, Chamomile, Nutmeg, Allspice, Violet, Strawberry, Olive, Poppy, Rose, Oak, Orange, Peppermint, Straw, Strawberry

LUST:

Celery, Cinnamon, Mint, Lemongrass, Sugar Cane, Olive, Nettle, Parsley, Dill, Violet, Vanilla, Saffron

MASCULINE ENERGY:

Allspice, Almond, Basil, Garlic, Hazel, Holly, Olive, Mistletoe, Cedar

MOON:

Lemon

MONEY:

Nutmeg, Peppermint, Jasmine

PEACE:

Lavender, Violet, Olive, Chamomile, Coffee, Clover, Passion Flower, Orange, Orange Blossom

PEACE OF MIND:

Coffee

PROSPERITY:

Orange, Orange Blossom, Onion

PROTECTION:

Lavender, Coffee, Oak, Clover, Acorn, Violet, Peppermint, Acacia, Willow, Thistle, Peony, Cypress, Lilac, Mint, Juniper, Ivy, Olive, Raspberry, Sage, Rose, Rosemary, Foxglove, Cranberry

PSYCHIC POWERS:

Celery, Acacia,Saffron, Cinnamon, Yarrow, Peppermint, Bay, Thyme, Mace, Star Anise, Lemongrass, Nutmeg, Bay

PURIFICATION:

Rosemary, Lemon, Saffron, Chamomile, Anise, Thyme, Parsley, Cedar, Turmeric, Peppermint, Lavender, Marjoram, Orange, Orange Blossom, Honey

RELEASE:

Peppermint, Spearmint, Fern, Mugwort

RENEWAL:

Peppermint, Spearmint, Ivy

SLEEP:

Celery,Thyme, Peppermint, Valerian, Chamomile, Passion Flower, Lavender, Rosemary

SPIRIT CALLING:

Sweet grass, Wormwood

SPIRITUALITY:

Arabic Gum, Gardenia, Sandalwood, Cinnamon, Frankincense

STABILITY:

Orange, Orange Blossom, Onion

STRENGTH:

Oregano, Saffron, Thistle

SUCCESS:

Cinnamon,Ginger,  Frankincense, Clover, High John, Strawberry

SUN:

Lemon, Cinnamon, Orange, Orange Blossom

TRANQUILLITY:

Chamomile, Cypress

WILL POWER:

Orchid

WISDOM:

Sunflower, Peach, Sage

WISHES:

Bay, Sunflower, Violet, Spearmint, Sandalwood

-

Yesterday I learned my backyard is home to purple ground ivy and its place within herbal witchcraft and herbal medicine was fascinating so I want to continue this journey. Obviously I know a few herbs and plants that are good for certain things but I really want to educate myself deeply!

….Ahem. Yes, I think I can help.

I’m a huge proponent of pairing magical education with mundane learning, both for safety and for context. Thus, books on plants, for spells and medicine alike, make up a big part of my library.

For the sake of convenience, I’ll break down my recs into two categories:

GREEN WITCHCRAFT

Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs (Cunningham) 

Garden Witchery (Dugan)

The Garden Witch’s Herbal (Dugan)

The Sacred Herbs of Samhain (Hopman)

The Real Witches’ Garden (West)

The Hearth Witch’s Compendium (Franklin)

The Hearth Witch’s Kitchen Herbal (Franklin)

The Green Witch Herbal (Griggs)

PRACTICAL HERBOLOGY

The Complete Guide to Herbal Medicines (Fetrow & Avila)

Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs (Carr)

Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs (Peterson Field Guides)

Edible Wild Plants (Peterson Field Guides)

Herbal Remedies (Chevallier)

The New American Herbal (Orr)

The Herbal Medicine-Maker’s Handbook (Green)

I also have a few other books that deal with practical gardening techniques and plant-related folklore, which I’m happy to provide upon request.

Please keep in mind that everything should be read with common sense and a grain of salt in mind. I have a lot more books that I refer to, but these are the ones I find myself reaching for most often.

For a really great free resource I suggest Maude Grieves Modern Herbal available online here.

Green Witch by Arin Murray-Hiscock

Green Witchcraft by Paige Vanderbeck

I agree with Bree on the Cunningham book and the Ellen Dugan books and local field guides.

For the next step:

The Witching Herbs by Harold Roth

Corinne Boyer Books (Plants of the Devil, Under the Bramble Arch, Under the Witching Tree)

Veneficium: Magic, Witchcraft, and the Poison Path by Daniel Schulke

There are a bunch of ways to start energy work! At first, aside from feeling energy in object and such, you’re going to want to start with grounding, centering, shielding, and actually being able to direct your energy places.

The way I started was meditating. Meditating may be difficult to get the hang of, but it genuinely opens you up so that you’re able to feel energy a lot easier. I actually have to start meditating again because I have to regain some stuff I lost because of trauma. 

My second recommendation is trying to feel the energy of the atmosphere around you. For instance, I’ve felt a lot of bad energy around me and I could tell something bad was going to happen. It’s kind of like your gut feeling or intuition, but I guess you could say it’s more energy based.

My third recommendation is trying to feel the energy of music or objects. How does a certain song make you feel? Meditate to it. How does a certain object make you feel? I believe that working with crystals could actually help a lot with energy work because you’ll be able to strengthen your ability to feel energy by trying to feel the energy of the crystals.

These are all things that I did that worked wonders for me. Here are some other posts about energy work that could be helpful, too:

[Energy Work Masterpost]

[Energy Work]

[Energy Work Masterpost]

[Energy Work Masterpost]

[Energy For Beginners Part I]

All About Auras

An aura could best be described as the energy given off by someone or something. Supposedly, everything has an aura, even an apple. Many people are able to either see or ‘sense’ auras, which may appear as a haze of light or colour surrounding something.

The colour an aura appears can have many correspondences, which can relate to someone’s mood or spirituality, or can be because of external factors such as light intensity. It’s even said to be possible to tell if someone is pregnant from the way their aura appears.

Common misconceptions about auras:

It is always the same colour.  - This is untrue, as auras tend to change colour when affected by many different factors. However one colour may be dominant.

It is always the same shape and texture.  - Nope, they could appear hazy, smooth, or spiky. Some could have auras spanning an inch from their bodies, but others could have auras reaching out to a metre.

There is scientific evidence for auras.  - Again, untrue. Despite many people being able to see auras, there is no way to measure them or comprehend why it is even there.

Your aura is a shield.  - Whilst it’s possible to utilise your energy to shield yourself from things through visualisation, your aura alone is by no means a barrier against spirits and vampire-like entities looking to ‘feed off’ your energy. Learn how to ward yourself.

There is only one colour at a time.  - Your visible aura can actually be a mix of colours. However, there are also seven different extents of your aura, ranging from physical to spiritual, which could all be a different colour at one time.

It is especially important to note that auras are constantly changing. This could be seen as Anicca, or impermanence, in which the Buddha taught that nothing is permanent and everything is constantly changing. The aura reflects this truth in ourselves and those around us.

Seeing Your Aura

Some people are able to see auras with ease without a whole lot of practice, whereas others might never be able to comprehend the aura. It is common for many witches to practice with seeing their aura.

Here is a simple exercise which will help you to begin seeing your aura. This is what I tend to get people to do often when starting with auras. If inexperienced, it is important to practice often in order to get better!

You may want to begin by meditating or casting a circle in order to have a better focus on your aura. Make sure you are calm and in the mindset to concentrate.

Find a blank area, such as a white wall or a sheet of paper, and hold your hand out to it. It is important that you don’t get distracted by the colour of the wall or anything on it.

Rather than focusing directly onto your hand, shift your gaze to look just past it. For instance just past your fingers, but not the space directly between your fingers.

Focus on this space. To avoid distracting yourself, practice steady breathing as you would in meditation.

Eventually, you should begin to see a haze of light surrounding your hand. At first it may appear small and even colourless, but keep practicing and you will start to see it even better.

Colour Correspondences

The colour of an aura can have many connotations, and can be dictated by thr shape and texture too. But here is a guide to help you with the typical deciption of simple aura colours.

RED -

Centred/grounded, passion, anger, energetic.

ORANGE -

Power, confidence, outgoing, good health.

YELLOW - 

Spiritual awakening/awareness, playful, happiness.

GREEN -

Healing, good communication, jealousy.

BLUE -

Intuition, calm, clairvoyance, honesty, fear of the future.

PURPLE -

Daydreaming, spirituality, artistic, psychic abilities.

WHITE -

Newness, purity, reaching enlightenment, angelic.

BLACK -

Negative feelings, blocked energy, potential illness.

BROWN -

Grounded, tied to the outdoors, afraid to let go.

PINK -

Loving, sensual, psychic gifts, dishonesty.

SILVER -

Physical and spiritual wealth, awakening of higher thought.

GOLD -

Enlightenment, protection from divine entities, guidance.

RAINBOW -