Kitten in a Cauldron

Combining the energies of shapes and colors is a powerful practice within art witchcraft. You can look for these combinations in your color castings, or other artistic forms of divination, or use them to boost your intent in spells.

Stay tuned for more free resources and information related to art magic and color craft. My inbox is always open!

I’ve been struggling to revamp my House Rules and finally was inspired to finalize them. When I first made my House Rules, they were open to loop holes and too vague. Over time, I gained more experience and discovered my limits as well as recognizing problematic phrasing. I’ve found that being blunt and clear in my rules left little to be misunderstood.

What are ‘house rules’?

House Rules are what’s referred to as a set of rules you’ve put into place for entities to follow while working with you or on your property. Depending on your relationship with this spirit can dictate when these rules are in effect and for how long. For example, a companion spirit is expected to follow the rules at all times however a spirit you’ve met off the street goes by their own rules. These rules are put into place to keep yourself safe as well as others within your household.

They’re not a necessity however it’s strongly recommended to have some set up while interacting with spirits. They act as a hard limit for spirits you interact with. House Rules act as a form of protection for yourself as well as others. You’re setting clear boundaries with these spirits to avoid potential problems.

Broken Rules

If your rules are broken, it’s up to you to enforce them. What punishments that may come is very subjective. Punishments can range can range from but not limited to offerings withheld, permanent offerings removed or discontinued, communication limited or withheld, barred from entering your space for a certain period of time, long term banishment, and/or permanent banishment. What you decide to do depends on how severe your rules have been broken and what you personally feel is an appropriate punishment.

Personal House Rules

Do not exploit loopholes in my rules. I am human and can make mistakes. If there’s any loopholes that is concerning to the safety of myself, my spirit family, or any of my loved ones then alert me.

Do not lie, twist my words, or omit the truth for the purposes of misleading me. I value concise and straightforward communication. If I end up not understanding you because you want to get cute with words then that’s your fault. Lying out of some misguided attempt to protect me is removing the choice for me without my consent. Twisting my words is what I consider a manipulation tactic.

Do not pretend to be something or someone you are not.

No spirits are allowed to feed from me without my express consent. My consent must be explicitly stated and must not have been obtained under duress, through manipulation, or deceit. My consent may be revoked at anytime.

Sexual contact is only permitted with myself through my consent and willingness of the act. Sexual contact is not allowed with any other members of my household. My consent must be explicitly stated and must not have been obtained under duress, through manipulation, or deceit. My consent may be revoked at anytime.

No spirit is allowed to invite other spirits into my home without my consent. My consent must be explicitly stated and must not have been obtained under duress, through manipulation, or deceit. My consent may be revoked at anytime.

No one is allowed to interfere with my personal relationships including communication. These relationships include other spirits. If you feel that any of these relationships are detrimental to myself, anyone within my spirit family, the deity(ies) I worship, and/or any of my loved ones then let me know. Do not manipulate myself or any members of my household to get what you want. Do not interfere in communication between myself and other members of this spirit family or other spirits.

Never harm or disrespect myself, my pets, any members of my household, friends, or welcome household guests. The basis for harm is based on my values and point of view. What you may think isn’t harmful I may find to be. If you are unsure, ask.

Protect yourself at all times. While I’ll do my best to protect you in any way I can as well as encourage other members of this spirit family to protect each other, I still expect you to protect yourself to the best of your abilities.

Disarm malicious magic that’s targeting me by someone else or that is around by circumstance. No spirit are allowed to interfere with my work both magical and mundane unless it’s to protect myself or members of my household. All spirits are to inform me of malicious magic sent my way and if any spirit interfered with my work out of protection.

Lack of awareness is no excuse for noncompliance with the House Rules. By joining this spirit family, you’re accepting these House Rules and acknowledge my right to take action, up to and including offerings withheld, permanent offerings removed or discontinued, communication limited or withheld, barred from entering my space for a certain period of time, long term banishment, and/or permanent banishment  in response to misconduct.

🐯 Further Reading 🐯

Simple Guide to House Rules (lavendardeath)

House Rules (urbanspellcraft)

Ask About Enforcing House Rules (swimminginscales — deactivated)

House Rules (spiritvexer — deactivated)

Death Witchcraft Masterpost

-Beginner Death Witchcraft

-Unusual Death Witchcraft

-Spring Death Witchcraft

-Lost Cost Death Witchcraft

-Safe Crossings for Someone Who’s Passed (pet-friendly as well)

-Massaging the Bones (attuning tools and bones to your space)

-Web of Protection (symbiotic/deathwork based ward)

-A semi-theistic Prayer for Passing/Grief

-My Humorous Retelling of “Koschei the Deathless”

Graveyards:

-Ways to Bond with a Graveyard

-Graveyard Dirt Uses

-Graveyard Alternatives

-Graveyard Dirt Alternatives

-Subtle Graveyard Offerings

-Bereavement Traditions

Spirit Work/Ghosts:

-Spirit Work 101

-Autumn Spirit Work

-Communication with Ghosts

-Non-verbal Spirit Communication

-Using a Spirit/Ouija Board

-Spirit Work Techniques: Keys

-Spirit Work Techniques: Energy Directives

-Spirit Banishing Tip

Recipes/Spells:

-Spirited Jack O’Lantern

-Safe Crossings Jar

-Baked Apple Offerings

-Pumpkin Seed Offerings -Underworld Powder Series- Styx

-Underworld Powder Series- Lethe

-Underworld Powder Series- Cocytus

-Underworld Powder Series- Phlegethon

-Underworld Powder Series- Acheron

-Contacting a Loved One

-Death Witch Tip

This post was written by Thicket, Rosemary, Tom, and Alexandria.

Questions for all spirits

How are you?

By what name may I call you, if you wish to give me one?

What offerings do you enjoy? How often do you need them? (This does not mean you must give offerings as often as a spirit requests. Do things on your own terms)

What is your true nature?

What laws do you obey?

Do you live near me?

Why did you answer my call today? (alternatively: Why are you here?)

How do you manifest to me? (Visions, sensations, light orbs, etc)

What do you like to do for fun? What are your pastimes?

What is your preferred method of communication? (Psychic, tarot, runes, other systems)

Is your spirit home comfortable?

Questions for guardians

Is there any danger to me at this time?

What is your normal method of protecting me? (Magic, brute force, cunning)

Are you able to do your job alone? (Be careful, some spirits may find this question to be insulting)

How may I assist you in keeping me safe?

Would you like a thoughtform to aid you in your task?

How are my wards and shields?

In what area are my defenses lacking?

Is there any pitfall or dangerous situation I am getting close to?

Who do I need to be careful of at this time?

Do you require any healing?

What problems can we take care of together?

Alexandria says: “What attacks are necessary at this time?”

Tom says: “Do not listen to Alexandria, be careful when engaging the enemy directly.”

Questions for guides

What form are you most comfortable in?

Tom and Alexandria say: “This is mostly for human curiosity and does not really matter.” Thicket disagrees; the form a creature can take can communicate very valuable information to the practitioner.

What do you think about the direction I am going in?

What paths are available to me right now?

Tom says: “Do not agonize over the future.” I think this is personal advice and not really a question.

What am I doing right now that could be dangeous?

What advice do you have for me? (Tom and Alexandria feel this is an excellent question)

What do you feel the outcomes are for this situation? Tom and Alexandria warn you to not be constrained by the limited futures a guide can show you.

How can I improve my life right now?

How can I aid you in your goals of guiding and directing me to a more secure life?

What is your goal for my life?

How long have you been with me? (Tom and Alexandria doubt the usefulness of this question, especially Tom. They communicate that this has no real bearing on a spirit’s ability to do it’s job – Thicket again disagrees)

What situations should I contact you about? (Serious, casual, everyday, rare)

Questions for helpers and servants

How are you able to assist me?

How am I able to assist you?

Are you able to carry out the tasks I have given you?

What is preventing you from carrying out these tasks, if anything?

What is your favorite task to complete?

What do you get out of helping me?

Do you require energy or recharging at this time?

What do you need in order to carry out your tasks?

Do you need a period of rest? Is it regularly required?

Have you discovered anything important that you need to share with me?

Questions for companions and friends

How are you feeling today?

Is everything comfortable for you?

Do you feel you are receiving enough attention from me lately?

Is there anything you would like to talk about?

Tell me about your day. (Tom especially likes this question; Alexandria is fond of it).

What can I get for you right now?

Are you pleased with your spirit home? Does it require upkeep?

What have you been up to lately?

Have any of your preferences changed? (Alexandria likes this question a lot)

What can I bring you as a special gift some time soon?

Is there any place you would like to travel to soon?

Am I doing anything lately that is bothering you?

How are you getting along with my spirit family?

Do you still enjoy the offerings you are receiving?

Other Notes

Some spirits appreciate being chattered to all day long, just like a close friend. Other spirits prefer to be contacted only when a serious matter arises, or even not at all. When greeting a new spirit, ask them how much they would like to communicate in general.

Do not directly ask for names. Names are serious business in the spirit world! Instead ask, “by what name may I call you,” indicating you are not searching for a true name. Tom feels that even these given names should be kept somewhat secret, and another nickname used to communicate about this spirit to humans. Alexandria somewhat agrees. Do not be offended or worried if a spirit refuses to give you any sort of name at all.

Do not confuse offerings with worship. Offerings are more like gifts – literally, you are just “offering” something to a spirit. A cup of coffee, a shot of liquor, some food, or even a nice glass of water makes a good gift. Just as you would offer snacks and beverages to any guest in your home, politely offer spirits something just to be a gracious host.

Avoid asking questions that give spirits leverage over you. “How do you feel about me?” is a question asked primarily by insecure people. Tom thinks this is harsh. Alexandria thinks this is correct. Some of these questions you may feel are somewhat unavoidable in companionship relationships. Let me encourage you to just be careful.

Hey everyone! So what I am sharing with you today is a card exercise that can be used to improve a variety of different skills. Telepathy for spirit communication, intuition, & more! I will explain how with a few different ones later, but feel free to get creative! Best thing about this, is it really only requires a deck of cards, and something to record your answers. The great thing about this exercise is that you can scale the difficulty of it as well!

Items Needed:

Deck of Playing Cards

Notebook or paper and a pen (to record your answers)

What You Need To Do - Basic Steps

First off, shuffle your deck. Now with your deck shuffled, pull one card from the top, place it face down (no peeking!). Now this is where you can include a spirit companion if you are working on telepathy with them! Keep in mind you can also use this practice to strengthen your other clair-senses as well! Have your companion sit with you and tell you if the card you chose is red or black. Don’t worry about any other thing on the card, just red or black.

If you are trying to strengthen a intuition or anything else, try to feel if the card is red or black instead of telling a companion to tell you.

Tips: Trust your first instinct. You may just feel stronger one way or the other, get a flash of color in your head, or however you may sense it or your companion may hint it to you. Go with your gut!

Make sure to record your answers! With just doing just red & black, you have a 50% chance per card of getting it right, so when you are getting 70-80% right consistently, progress so its a little harder!

Ways To Progress The Exercise

Alright so time to make it a bit harder: progress as follows:

Colors Only (Black/Red)

Suits Only (Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, Spades)

Colors & Suits

Face/Pip Cards Only (Ace, 2, 3, 4, King, etc)

Face/Pip & Colors

Face/Pip & Suits

Exact Cards

Safe time to progress is when you are hitting 60-80% accuracy for the first few. Progress as you feel comfortable on the last few! Good luck!

A very simple guide of sorts, for the different Underworld and Death Deities from different pagan paths. This is as much for learning for me as everyone else, so feel free to point out anything I should add or fix, if there’s anything please let me know! Any suggestions for other deities/paths or types of deities are welcome! (I may also make an underworlds geography related guide later to follow this up :D) I’m also thinking of doing compare and contrast posts about these gods so watch out for that!

Hades (and Persephone); Greek; also known as Haides. The underworld God from Greek Mythology and the Hellenic Pantheon. He was the king of the underworld realm, also known as Hades. However, was not the actual personification of death itself. His wife, Persephone, ruled by his side for only part of each year before returning to her mother, Demeter. Hades was known to be a very passive God, compared to most, and was forgiving and calm. Persephone, surprisingly, was known to take her role as Queen of the Underworld very seriously, but was even more feared by ancient greeks than her husband due to her lack of pity. Because of this fear, Hades would be given ‘nicknames’ by the ancients. One such name was (The Roman version of him) ‘Pluto’ or ‘Pluton’, from the Greek word, Plouton, meaning wealth. This is because Hades was also the God of Wealth, referring to the precious metals mined from the ground.

Thanatos; Greek; The literal God of Death in Greek mythology. He was tasked with overseeing the death of those who died in a non-violent way, compared to his twin brother, Hypnos, who was the God of sleep. He is depicted very often with wings, like that in biblical mythology with angles. His sisters, the Keres, were spirits that oversaw violent death; including everything from battle, murder, accidents or disease. They worked specifically for the Fates, those tasked with determining one’s fate/life span, and were depicted to swarm like vultures around battlefields and feed upon the fresh souls before they sent them to Hades. Some were even personified into specific deaths, such as the plague/illness, evils and banes.  “The Keres were depicted as fanged, taloned women dressed in bloody garments.”

Hermes; Greek; God of travel, trade, language, cunning wiles, astrology and more. Though not an actual god of death or the underworld, he played  a large part in death Greek  Mythology. He was the one who guided the souls of the dead to Hades, where they would be judged by Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Aeacus, each originally mortal men, fathered by Zeus, turned into demigods of the underworld to weigh the morality and worth of each individual.

Hel; Norse; Goddess of the Underworld, Helheim (or sometimes referred to as Hel too). A child of the trickster God Loki and a giantess named Angrboða, Hel is said to be half alive and half dead. She is often depicted with the beautiful face of a maiden (or an old hag, in some) on one side, and a rotten corpse or skeleton on the other half, however, some sources say her entire top half was alive and her lower half was the dead part. She is usually seen as one who takes her job very seriously, though doesn’t care much for the concerns of the living, humans and gods alike, but is greedy, especially when it comes to collecting the dead. This makes sense, considering Helheim was not the only afterlife ancient norse people had. Helheim was the world for those who died of more normal things, like old age or sickness; Valhalla, ruled by Odin, and Fólkvangr, ruled by Freyja, were both reserved for those who died in battle.

Osiris; Egyptian; God of the Earth and Vegetation, as well as Lord of the Dead. He is the first son born from Geb, the original King and god of the earth and guide of the dead. It is said that before he inherited his father’s role, Egypt was not civilized and was cannibalistic. Osiris sought to change this, disguising himself as a human, he thought the mortals morality, architecture, and agriculture. He also gave them laws, the arts and science, and is credited in Egypt’s development into civilization. He’s known to have been called ‘Egypt’s greatest king who ruled through kindness and persuasion.’ However, it is his role in death that gained him real popularity. He was very flexible and forgiving, allowing many into the Underworld, Duat, a gentle, fertile land, as long as they had been moral while they lived and were buried with the correct rituals.

Anubis; Egyptian; The Jackal-God of mummification and guide of the dead. He was the son of Osiris, and had three main jobs in Egyptian mythology; he supervised the mummification/embalming process, he exercised the rites of the dead with the Opening of the Mouth ceremony and conducted the soul in the Field of Celestial Offerings. The Opening of the Mouth ceremony was to ensure that the deceased could eat and drink in the afterlife, while the Field of Celestial Offerings gave offerings to Osiris’s paradise in Duat. But his most important job was monitoring the Scales of Truth, which protected the dead from deception and eternal death (Egyptians believed in eventual resurrection of the dead).

Baron Samedi; Haitian Vodou/Voodoo; Often depicted in a top hat, the God of resurrection, he is the giver of death and life. Though master of the dead, Baron also has the power to cure and heal any mortal ailment. He is often called upon, not only by people on their deathbed, but in need of help with a physical malady. Though he won’t come for free, some sort of ceremony or offering must be given in honor of him, and even then he is picky on who he saves. He is also, however, almost always shown as rude, a lover of debauchery, dirty jokes and swearing. He is also associated with magic, especially black magic and curses. He is, though, the only one capable of allowing souls into the realm of the dead.

Manannan mac Lir; Celtic; also sometimes named Oirbsiu or Oirbsen, he was the Celtic God of the Sea, but also the guide of the dead who led the recently deceased to the Otherworld, the domain of Manannan himself, though he was not said to be the God of the Dead. The Otherworld was a paradise for the deceased, in that it was free of disease, hunger, and pain. Mag Mell is a specifically named island that has a similar description, but only a selected few were allowed to go here in their after life.

Donn; Celtic; Lord of the Dead. Said to have been a mortal man who drowned after seeing the goddess Ériu and set up his home on a near by island as an assembly place for the dead before they made their way to the Otherworld. He named this place Teach Duinn and in some versions, he would periodically sound a horn and the sound would echo across the Earth as a guide for the wandering souls to follow so to eventually make their way to Teach Duinn where they could pass on to the Otherworld.

Hey there! So, for spirit communication, there are several ways and I’ll only briefly touch on a couple of the prominent onesThere are the clairs: clairvoyance (seeing), clairtangence/psychometry (touching), clairaudience (hearing), Clairgustance (tasting), clairsentience (feeling), Clairscent/clairodoance (smelling) and clairempathy etc etc to communicate with spirits. While some people have a natural affinity for one to several, they can all be strengthened by anyone with practice.

I happened to have owned an antique store and my clairtangence is pretty developed. I’ll get flashes of Information, emotions, etc. when using and developing the Clair’s, go with your instincts and don’t discount anything. If you walk into a room and keep getting a flash of the number 32, make a note and move on. But a simple way to communicate aside from the Clair’s are your usual divination methods:

Spirit boards or ouijaPendulums with a board (yes, no, maybe, or even using a pendulum over a spirit board)And my favorite, cartomancy and tarot cards.

So many people have spirit communication spreads, and that’s great, but an even simpler way and more beginner friendly way is asking yes/no questions and using cartomancy.

Playing Card Deck (take out the jokers)♠️ spades- yes♦️diamonds- no♣️clubs- maybe/reframe the question♥️hearts- I don’t know

Tarot Cards⚔️swords- yes⭐️ pentacles- no🎋 wands- maybe/reframe the question🍷cups- I don’t knowMajor arcana: interpret as you see fit. Archetypes, people, major life events etc

Now, my method I use:🕯Grab a candle (I use the glass “prayer” candles because they’re cheap, come in every color, and the glass keeps them easy to move and most importantly, are protected from blowing out from a gust)🕯Trace or draw a septagram (seven pointed star, known for helping control spirits/keep things from getting out of hand, also good for limiting the interaction/influence to just that area)on the space you’ll be working/putting your tools🕯Take a breath, center and ground yourself, and if you feel the need to shield, only shield yourself. If you cast a circle of salt, or ward your area, you’re blocking out the spirits and you’ll just be sitting in the dark alone.🕯Light the candle and either vocally or internally invite a specific spirit like ancestral spirits (birth, local or spiritual ancestors) or just reach out and see who’s there*. 🕯For cartomancy ask a question, draw a card, and keep going. You get a surprisingly clear picture and instincts may kick in and in your minds eye, you may even get glimpses of events, appearances etc.🕯Use whatever method until either the spirit leaves or you’re done with the interaction. Then blow out the candle.**🕯Re-shield yourself, your home and put up whatever protections you had previously. You can cleanse the space, and cleanse your tool as well (sprinkling a little salt is perfect and simple)

Boom, you’re a spirit worker.

Couple notes: It’s your space, you set the rules and the barriers.*you can specify and make requirements and I highly suggest this especially if you’re starting out or if you’re just reaching into the void. Examples: “Only spirits who cannot/will not harm me are welcome. Only human spirits may come into this space. No lies or tricksters can be spoken in this time.” (but it’s only fair if you do the same)**You do not have to say thank you. This is especially important if you end up contacting certain beings who may take it as an admissions that a favor was done and you now are indebted. Some handy alternatives are beginning the session/seance with “welcome” and ending with “farewell/goodbye” other options for verbally ending the session while being polite are “I have heard your truth/story” but if it’s a family member, or ancestral spirit, I have no problem saying thank you.

If you are seeking specific information or Information about your future, you’re better off interacting with an ancestral spirit or family member who you have a connection to (Julia Child won’t have any idea if you’re getting into Dartmouth). You can also VERY CAREFULLY AND WITH A CLEAR INTENTION AND SPECIFICITY make a bargain for specific knowledge. The way this is done is by stating what you will give/donate BEFORE.“I will give you the first serving of tonight’s meal. In exchange for caring for your spirit, share any important information you have about _____________” then, make a plate of a small portion of each item and set it outside.“I will light a candle in the church for you. In return, I would like your blessing on this land.” Then go fucking light a candle in the church for them.

What if nothing happens?Make your space as welcoming as possible. Light incense, spray Agua Florida, burn some marigolds and mugwort etc.

What if everything happens?If things get hectic, don’t freak out and don’t just leave the space. Say goodbye, you are no longer welcome in my home, and blow out the candle. Cleanse, take a shower, turn on the lights and CLEANSE YOUR TOOLS. The tool is a conduit, and leaving it open is how stupid stuff happens.

Anyway, hope this helps! Happy hauntings.

I’m so glad you love it! That makes my day!

Here are a couple of my basic death witchcraft and spirit work 101 type posts:

Beginner Death Witchcraft

Unusual Death Witchcraft

A Spirit Work 101 Lesson 

Communication with Ghosts

Energy Directives (calling specific spirits to you)

It’s been roughly a year since I started working with His Highness. Since then I’ve reflected a lot on Hades’ energy, His character, His archetype, the sort of things He represents and corresponds to in the physical, metaphorical, and psychological. Although there are still many more things for me to learn about the Lord of Shades, I’ve decided to mark this milestone with a post on how I experience this frequently misunderstood god.

What stands out to me the most about Hades is that He is efficient. This to me is the core of His character. He is all about resourcefulness and necessity, and we see this when we observe the process of decay. Death is indeed resourceful, for it recycles all matter eventually for another purpose. It is the dead that feed the living, and death that balances life. Death transforms matter into something that can be used by the living. It is Death’s nature to be efficient.

And so I’ve found efficiency to underpin many aspects of Hades’ character. He can be serious and stern, cold and unyielding, but He can also be kind, caring, sensitive, understanding, supportive. As a god of justice and necessity, Hades is what the situation requires, and He will address you in a manner that you need and/or deserve. That said, I believe that many of those who interact with Hades, can agree that He is habitually calm, grounded, and sober, and that these earthy traits are what many tend to recognise in Him.

One of my favourite epithets of Hades is Eubuleus, meaning “Good Counsellor”. The impression I have of Hades is that He processes most things on an intellectual level. This is not to say He lacks emotions – He feels as much as any god, and He can certainly be moved by the sentimental. Rather I am suggesting that Hades is emotionally intelligent, that as a king, He is guided by emotions but not ruled by them. You can see this in the Orpheus myth where Hades is touched by Orpheus’ music and agrees to let Eurydice go, yet nonetheless places a prudent condition on their escape.

There are various opinions of Hades that say He is greedy, or angry, or grim. Some say the opposite, that He is actually a gentle, non-violent, and benevolent god, even to the extent of claiming that He is harmless. I have seen some decidedly disreputable words being used to describe Him (though I think He is not much bothered by it either way).

I would personally disagree with all those descriptions. For Hades to be any of those things, He would have to be primarily driven by emotions rather than intellect. Efficiency, necessity and justice – the traits I sense most from Him – these things transcend greed, anger, and benevolence.

Another way I experience Hades is through quiet and solitude. The sort of energy I feel on a dull rainy day, or in a hospital, or in my bedroom at midnight. I’ve felt Him strongly in libraries, filled with history and seamless thoughts on paper. There’s something very Hadesian about libraries. I imagine every book to be a shade that enters His realm, waiting to be read, to be acknowledged. To me, Hades is a historian, and I find him in the pages of books old and new, in the cup of hot tea or coffee I keep beside me, and in the pages of my own journals where I record my life.

Hades urges me to keep my planner up to date, to record and add up my spending, to track my plans and habits and any errands I have to run. I find His presence when I organise my life. He is a king, after all. He is concerned with the day-to-day running of His world, and so I make sure than I have sovereignty over mine.

I also interact with Hades through shadow work. He wants me to face my shadow selves; my fears, hates, flaws, mistakes. He would see me take control of my life, own it, and rule it with a level head. Not necessarily to become a great person, but a peaceful one. I can trust Him to hold space for me, to sit with me, to let me cry and complain and release all my messy emotions without judgement.

Hades is earth to me in that He is a strong and stable presence. He hasn’t just been here for me; He’s stayed through all of it to ground and focus me. He is also air and water to me because he represents mastery over one’s thoughts and emotions. His energy is that of a broad stone pillar, or a sturdy tree that’s deeply rooted and can’t be knocked over.

He rarely says much to me in the form of words, but His presence speaks volumes, and I’ve not felt another deity’s energy as strongly and consistently as I’ve felt His.

Angry spirits are generally not very fun. They can act out, just like a living human could, though their reactions can end up being much scarier in some cases. This is a little guide on how to talk to and calm an irritable spirit, and hopefully get on better terms with them. I have also included a but about banishing a spirit if need be. (And let’s be honest, sometimes there is no reasoning with an angry spirit). There are individual steps for ease of use and reading, but if you feel certain steps don’t apply, or you feel need to be completed in a different order, feel free to move things around.

Analyze the situation. Decide if you really think the spirit is angry/irritable, or if it is a new presence or energy. See if you can recognize the feeling the events or situations give off. Does it feel like a particular spirit? Is this even like them to do this? Could it potentially be another spirit, or even some negative energy or a curse? Try to really think before jumping to conclusions, because it may not even be the spirit causing havoc or making you feel angry or whatever else makes you think they are upset.

Think about what you’ve done recently, in a metaphysical as well as physical sense. Do you have any new companions? Have you been ignoring the spirit lately? Have you brought anyone new into the home, ex: a child or significant other? Is there anything that could make the spirit jealous, upset, or offended? For example: did you disrupt their grave to bring them in, or even appropriate from their culture? Another thing to think about is whether or not you’ve said anything to bring about a change in the spirit.

Talk to the spirit. As with most first steps, talking to the spirit can really open dialogue and help you understand their thought process. Try to remain positive, neutral in taking sides (if it involves another entity or person), and be open minded. I know some things may seem silly, you may think “well that wouldn’t upset me”. But the truth is, you’re not them. Validate their feelings and just listen for a while.

Work out any problems if possible. Sometimes a spirit needs more interaction, and sometimes they just need their space. Other times they are lonely and want another spirit friend, or another companion (a human that is living). If you know the root of the problem, even if it seems silly, you’ll be able to work with them and help. Find out what’s really bothering them and work together to fix it.

If they aren’t listening, aren’t willing to compromise, and are still angry, if not angrier, begin to think of other options. This could mean taking a break for a while, and inviting them back later. It could just mean making daily offerings. Try to base this off of their personality and wants.

If they become belligerent and dangerous, begin planning to banish them. If at anytime you truly fear for your safety or the safety of others due to their presence in your home, it should immediately be deemed an unsafe situation. Banishing them can be hard, especially if you were once close, but you should not be in a dangerous environment.

Keep in mind that some spirits are inherently angry or malevolent, whether due to their natural nature or the way they died. It’s okay to have to let go of those spirits if you can’t help them, or even feel that they want to be helped.

Banishment

Banishment is usually a last resort, but sometimes it is very necessary. Here is a banishing ritual I used to get rid of a very malevolent entity a while ago, and haven’t had a problem since.

What You’ll Need:

Shredded Soap (I reccomend grating it, but you can shave it with a knife or whatever you think is safe and easiest)

Sage (I used the spice in my kitchen, it was dried and ground)

Moon Water

Gem elixir (I used a mix of rose quartz, clear quartz, amethyst, and hematite for this. Be cautious with hematite, as I am not 100% sure it is safe in water. I set it around the glass When making my water) (rose quartz for love and harmony in the home, clear quartz to clear away negativity, amethyst for peace and protection, and hematite to be rid of negative energy and circulate the energy through my home)

A spray bottle

Black Candle

Begin by mixing your gem elixir, moon water, and soap together in a bowl. To bless the soap and give it spiritually cleansing properties, use this chant, or direct cleansing energy into the soap:

“Soap you clean and clear away

Debris and dirt, and my dismay.

I bless you so you’ll remove

Everything I don’t approve.”

Add the sage and pour this mixture into the spray bottle. Spray around your entire house, focusing on doors and windows, ceilings, floors, and entrances. Don’t forget random spaces like up your chimney or down your vents.

Death is a daunting and controversial topic in society.

Sure a lot of our generation may joke about death lightly in various memes or ‘lol someone just kill me, I wanna die from this failure I committed’, but when actually confronted with death, some people start singing a different tune. We’ve all been affected by it some way or another, whether it be the death of a friend, family member, beloved pet, or an idol you adored. Reactions and how we are, in turn, affected by said death is variable.

Some take it better than others, others reel and take very long to recover, but it is never easy when someone reaches that inevitable ending.

As such, death witchery is a road less traveled when it comes to witches. I won’t lie and say it’s an easy path to take on. Because it isn’t, death witchcraft is probably one of the most daunting paths of witchcraft one can choose. Working closely with death isn’t for everyone and can be quite dreary on the mind, but hopefully with this entry level guide, you can really decide whether or not you truly think death witchery is a path for you. 

One of the strongest energies I work with is that of death. It can be intimidating to outside forces, malevolent or otherwise, and I tend to use it sparingly in protection because of it’s all encompassing scare factor. I don’t want to scare away good things, and certainly don’t want to draw any bad things in. However, death isn’t always scary. Sometimes it’s a guardian force, as is the energy of cemeteries. There is a certain respect associated with death, and thus is what I pull from to make a shield from it.

This is a visualization I created as well as my directions for energy work and chants. You can switch things up if you like, this is just what I do.

What you’ll need:

A spot of ground, preferably inside your home somewhere, that has the Earth directly under it. This makes the energy work simpler, in my experience

Kneel or sit with your palms pressed into the floor. Take a few breaths and begin to visualize the energy beneath you stirring around and coming to meet your fingers.

Allow your energy to flow freely out into the Earth, and the Earth’s energy to go into you. There’s an exchange here and an important part of being able to use the energy, as you’ll be more connected to it.

Feel around in the energy below you and search for bones, fossils, undisturbed caves filled with fallen animals. Don’t wake any spirits if you feel them, just call to the energy of somber respect and invite it into your sculpting hands.

Once you’ve called this energy and gathered a fair amount of it, slowly raise your hands into a palms up position. Look ahead, not down anymore, to show this energy you are above the surface, not below it.

I use a wand for this step, but you can use your hand or fingers for it just as well. I draw the sigil I use to represent my own home in the air and say:

Earthen bays shall now release

Somber eyed and kindly beasts.

Guided up like brick and stone,

I summon thee, and thee alone.

Wrap around in sharpened spires,

Ivy cages and guarded fires.

Protect my home like the blessed dead,

From malice and spite and tidings of dread;

Cater to love, invite my warm friends,

Review all that passes except what I send.

Here I sit with you, hands facing thee.

This is my will, so it shall be.

After the chant, Invision a smoky wall of grey coming up and around you home, starting from a point underneath of it. When a sphere of some kind is formed, attach it to an energy source to provide a constant recharging base. I like the sun, moon, inner core of the Earth, and the ocean if you’re nearby it.

~Anise- protection, psychic awareness 
~Bay oil- manifests spirits ~Basil- emotional healing, peace, manifests spirits ~Black Pepper- protection ~Carnation- eases grief ~Cinnamon- spirit communication and connection ~Cinnamon Bark- psychic awareness ~Cyprus- protection ~Cypress- eases grief ~Dragon’s Blood- protection ~Frankincense- protection, spiritual connection ~Iris- courage ~Jasmine- psychic awareness ~Lavender- eases grief, grounding, psychic enhancement ~Lemon Grass- psychic awareness, anointing tools and offerings; especially necromancy tools. (Make sure to dilute it as it is not good for your skin; use with caution) ~Lilac- healing, peace ~Lotus- eases grief, heartbreak ~Musk- courage ~Myrrh- ease grief, protection ~Narcissus- eases grief ~Orange- eases grief and sadness ~Patchouli- grounding, protection spells and inks. (Associated with the Earth and Underworld) ~Peppermint- spiritual connection ~Roman Chamomile- grounding ~Rose- courage, protection, helping a spirit pass ~Rosemary- ease grief ~Rue- protection ~Sage- grounding, protection, helping a spirit pass ~Sandalwood- spirit communication, helping a spirit pass ~Thieves- grounding, spirit communication ~Vetiver- grounding ~Violet- protection
~Wormwood- can be used to help spirits manifest. (Caution when using this oil!! It is slightly hallucinogenic) ~Ylang Ylang- eases heartbreak 
So this is my list of essential oils in my correspondences (With the help of death-witch-envy!!) Feel free to add to the list or change some correspondences to your liking. Remember, some correspondences work for different people. I hope this helps!!

Death witchcraft can be used and interpreted in many different ways. But what one does with it is often very personal, different, and unique. Here are some rituals, spells, etc. that I have done or am planning on doing that fit into my definition of Death Witchcraft.

Scrying with spirits - you may have seen my post about this a while ago, which I recommend reading if you’re interested. I touch lightly on human spirits their, but I do enjoy a session with human spirits, or even animals. I definitely ritualize scrying, though I am not sure why. It feels special to me, and always has…

Divining the future with the dead - similar to the last ritual, I divine with the dead to try and get answers, predictions, etc from them. I have a post on that too, which I wrote more recently. I really like to do this, as it gives both the spirit involved and me a hand in helping others, or even ourselves.

Grief spells and rituals - grief can be heart wrenching, lead to depression, and extreme bouts of loneliness. With consent, I sometimes do these rituals and spells to help loved ones feel more at peace. I wrote a funeral bouquet post about what I would send if asked to, and why each flower was a potent piece of healing. This is a minor form of these types of rituals.

Passing spells and rituals - helping spirits pass on, or get “unstuck” when reliving their past is a very rewarding thing. I like these because it prevents pain and suffering from life crossing over into death. Another aspect of the funeral bouquet post is for this, too.

Curses - death does not always mean bringing mortality to a living, breathing thing. I use it to smother success, disenchant happiness, etc. It seems cold, but I rarely use this in curses anymore. I have no need, at least not recently. My past curses have served me well, and my emotional response to evil people has matured.

Rebirth spells and rituals - I know the power of death, and of the rebirthing process that follows it. I am going to conduct a formal ritual regarding this and my recent recovery from depression. I want a moment of reflection where I can release the past entirely.

Communing with the dead - meditation can lead to eye opening encounters with the spirits of those who died before you. They have voices, and they will speak, even if you will not listen.

- keeping obsidian, a small skull amulet, a pendulum, or smokey quartz with you to squeeze when a confidence boost is needed 

- gently reminding yourself to really live in the moment, as our time here is so short 

- burning a black candle when you feel the need to “power up” your energies

- beginning each day with a positive reminder: “i shall continue to make my strongest mark on the world, to the best of my abilities, during my period on this Earth"