lesb(w)itchy

Introduction

Scientific Fact: Witches love crystals almost as much as they love jars.  Consumerism Fact: In many metaphysical shops, nice-looking crystals can be had for relatively cheap. Ethical Fact: Many of those crystals are as cheap as they are because they are mined with no consideration for the damage done to the environment or the welfare of the humans collecting them.

So what’s a good, honest, ethically-minded witch to do, especially if he/she/they don’t have the money to afford crystals that were mined sustainably and responsibly, or the time to research which sellers obtain their wares from ethical mines?

Find their own.

I’ve been crystal hunting all my life, but only within the last year have I started doing it seriously. I’ve walked away from a creeking expedition with slabs of smoky quartz the size of my palm or calcite hunks bigger than my fist, and I personally think creek-crystal energy is much more vibrant and easy to work with; by comparison, the crystal points I’ve bought from metaphysical shops feel… inert, lifeless.

So let’s get straight into it!

What You’ll Need

a good-sized creek or stream with lots of gravel spits along its length

offerings to the spirit of the creek, if appropriate to your personal practice

bug spray, sunscreen, snacks, water, and anything else you’d normally bring on a hike

your trusty adventurer’s Bag of Holding

your sweet self

Now let’s talk details.

When I say “gravel spits”, this is what I’m referring to:

These tumbles of stone are going to be where you’ll find your treasures, and the size of the stones themselves actually tells you what size of crystal you might find: When the conditions are right (ie, during a flood), the water flowing through that portion of the creek is capable of lifting and moving rocks of the size you see there now. 

In my experience, the crystal specimens you’ll find are typically half or one-third the size of the average rock on the spit. They’re usually larger than the smallest rocks, but much smaller than the largest rocks. Not always, though–I have found specimens larger. (See the introduction.)

Regarding offerings, if that’s part of your path, you’ll want to make sure it’s nothing that will harm the local wildlife or damage the ecosystem in any way. My personal go-to is water, ideally water from a bottle I haven’t drunk from yet.

In the same vein as offerings, I’ve had great success in making a sort of bargain with the spirit of the place: That in return for treasures, I will pick up and remove any litter I find in the area. It is, of course, always a good idea to remove any litter you see when you’re out in nature, but it doesn’t hurt to point out to the spirit of the place that it’s something you’re doing for it. Bring along a trash bag to help collect it.

Lastly, with regards to your bag, I would advise something with two shoulder straps. Rocks are heavy.

What You’ll Do

Once you’ve hiked to your creek and found a gravel spit with lots of good-sized rocks, it’s time to start looking. There’s two main approaches I’ve found that work well, and I tend to use both. 

The first is a broad sweep. This one works best if you’ve got good lighting on the rocks. All you do is stand in one spot and sway side to side slightly while looking over the gravel, looking for anything that glints, shines, or otherwise catches the light shining on it. If you see something, investigate it. Repeat.

The second is the more detailed search. Get down on the ground–whether that means kneeling, crouching, laying on your belly, I don’t care–and go over each rock one by one. Use your eyes and use your hands. I imagine this method is probably going to be unpleasant for a lot of you, but honestly, it’s like crack to me.

Once you’ve combed over the current gravel spit as thoroughly as you please, pack up and move on to the next. Continue for as long as you like, or until you feel it’s time to go. Just remember that as far out as you go is how far you’ll have to walk back!

Advice and Warnings

Tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to be back. If you godsforbid go missing, they’ll be able to give the police an idea of where to start searching for your poor, lost ass.

Keep a charged cell phone with you at all times. 

If you see something or someone iffy, do your best avoid it. Sometimes there are creepy people in the woods, and sometimes they do creepy things. Don’t get involved.

Make sure you’re not trespassing on private property. All of the creeks I hike on are on public land. If you’re in a state park or other protected environmental area, don’t go off the trail–you could cause damage to a fragile ecosystem.

Following the creek is a good way to get out and back without losing your way.  Don’t stray too far from it if you’re in unfamiliar territory.

The best times of year to go hunting–assuming Northern Hemisphere, a temperate climate and deciduous forests around the creek–are the spring and summer. In the autumn, you’ll have to clear fallen leaves off of the gravel before you can look, and winter is too cold. 

The best time of day is the morning, when the sun angle is lower and is more likely to glint off of shiny rocks.

You’ll have your best luck the day after heavy rain. Rain will swell the stream and shift the stones around, and could uncover new treasures! 

Inspect anything that looks even remotely worthwhile. You’ll find a lot of duds, sure, but that will help train your brain to tune out what you don’t care about finding.

“What Can I Find?”

Exactly what sort of minerals and crystals you’ll find is highly variable. All minerals are not equally distributed across the planet, because many of them require very different conditions to form and the crust composition varies slightly from place to place. However, there are some stones that are pretty common all over the Earth, so no matter where you go hunting, you’re likely to find them.

Of course, for more specific identifications, please consult the internet, a book on mineralogy, or your local rockhounding club. 

Quartz

The chemical formula of quartz is SiO2, or silicon dioxide. Silicon and oxygen are, by mass, the two most abundant elements in Earth’s crust; around 90% of it is composed of silicate minerals like quartz. Ever find a pretty, sparkly, mostly-clear rock on the ground? It was probably quartz. 

Quartz comes in a mind-boggling array of colors, from smoky quartz so dark it’s practically opaque to purple-and-orange ametrine to the brilliant clear of a Herkimer diamond (yup, not actually diamonds) but all of these varieties are still quartz. In my region of North America, clear and smoky quartz seem to be the most plentiful. 

Calcite

Calcite is calcium carbonate, CaCO3. Like quartz, it is made of some of the Earth’s most abundant crustal elements (in this case, calcium and oxygen) and comes in a stunning array of colors. In my creeks, I’ve found calcite in yellow, orange, white, and even blue and red.

The biggest giveaway for rough calcite is its texture. If you pick up a rock and it feels like someone rubbed wax all over it, you’ve probably got yourself a calcite specimen.

Feldspar

Feldspar is one of the most abundant minerals in the crust, alongside quartz. It’s also a silicate, and it frequently finds its way into other minerals, such as granite. 

What sets feldspar apart from the other two minerals I’ve mentioned here is its fracture habit: It naturally fractures along cleavage planes which intersect at 90-degree angles. It doesn’t shatter–it shears. If you find a rock with a smooth face that looks like a polished stone countertop, it’s probably feldspar.

“But Bear, I Want Crystal Points!”

Oh. Yeah.

You can find those too. 

Every one of those pictures is of quartz points that I have found in my area. (In fact, they’re actually all from the same crystal-hunting hike, and represent only about a third of the specimens I found that day!) As you can see, they aren’t all perfect–and I have plenty of others that are, like, three facets and no point–but they’re all beautiful, and some of them really sing, if you know what I mean. 

Conclusion

Finding your own crystals can be pretty simple, when you get down to it. It can be a lot of fun to get down and dirty, and is a great way to get yourself out in nature for a while. And, of course, you can rest assured that your crystals were gathered in a sustainable, respectful, ethical manner–assuming you took care of yourself and the environment while finding them!

I share a very small room with my sister, and obviously don’t have much room for an altar. I use most of my space for my Hellenic shrines and altar. I keep my witchy stuff on my shared bedside table. Here is what I use, and how I store/display it. This is element based, but you can use it however you like.  

North (Earth)

Small Himalayan Rock Salt Lamp - This is a tool I use all the time. It detoxifies my room, and cleanses the space. I feel so much more at ease with it on, like it’s washing everything away!

Crystals - You might want to move these or switch them out depending on what spell you’re doing, as all energy contributes to the working, but while you’re in your room, or even while you’re away, you can leave these here to represent Earth. 

Salt - Little packets of salt work, or you can place a bowl with some salt in it on your altar. I use my rock salt lamp. 

Dirt - A literal baby jar of dirt works, or you can put a plant on your altar if it’s by a window. I have a succulent!

Earth Imagery - A mini globe would be pretty cool! Or even a little eraser or what not. Having an actual picture of the Earth would be amazing, especially if the clouds were visible, and maybe if it had the sun in the background. Then it could be all encompassing of the elements.

Herbs, Flowers, Plants, etc -  As with the crystals, you may want to change these out or put them away during spells, or switch them out. However, they would look really cool as you went with the seasons!

 Fossils - I think fossils are awesome Earth representations. They have been in the ground for a very long time! I used to have some really cool fossils I used to represent Earth on my altar.

Tree Slice - Have you ever seen those little wooden slices that come from a tree stump? The ones that definitely had huge roots? Those would be perfect to represent Earth! 

South (Fire)

Birthday Candles/Tea Lights - You can colour code! These are great for short workings, or even to call the elements. To make these stand up, place them in a bit of clay and let it harden. 

Matches -  Double whammy here-  light your candles and have a representation!

Ash - I used to have volcanic ash, which was perfect. It got spilled, but for the while that I had it, it was awesome. Collect ash from incense, a fire, etc, and use it (just wait for it to cool!!!)

Charcoal - I always thought charcoal looked kinda witchy. I think a dish of it would make a good rep.

 Charred Wood - If you have a bonfire, or just so happen to light a piece of wood on fire, you could let it cool and use it for your altar. 

Lamp - If you have a secret altar, a little lamp could be an inconspicuous representation for fire, as it does produce light and heat. 

Lantern - You can buy super cute mini lanterns at the Dollar Store. I love them, but haven’t gotten one yet. I think they would be fun to use for Fire.  

West (Water) 

Glass of Water - You can use whatever type of water you’d like; moon water, rose water, purified water, gem elixir; take your pick!  Just make sure it doesn’t get moldy and stay moldy. Change it out each day/week. 

Sea Shells - You can get these in super small sizes! Or, you can get them big and bulky. 

Sea Glass - These little stone-like fragments are so pretty! They look just like crystals, and can be found on the beach or in the store!

Sea Salt -  Sea Salt could work to represent Water, especially if you pour it into a seashell or add in sea glass to it. It could be like a little potpourri of water related objects!

Rain Cloud - You can create clouds out of things like stuffing for toys, cotton balls, and sometimes led lights. It could be a fun project, or you can buy one of them off of etsy.  

Mermaid Image - I have a mermaid book mark made of metal, and it sits with my other water-related objects. I feel like it adds that feel of majesty to my water representation. 

Drift Wood - This is so pretty! The pieces are smooth, have a fun shape, and definitely capture the essence of water!

Sand - If you go to a beach, collect some sand, and place it somewhere on your altar! Be sure to put it in a bowl, though, because it is hard to clean up. 

Sea Weed - You can hang this somewhere, or put it directly on your altar. Either way, it looks great.

Coral - If you find some coral, you can place it on your altar. It looks so neat!

Starfishes/Sand Dollars/etc. - These are a little harder to find on the beach, but if you do, place them on your altar. 

East (Air)

Wind Chimes - These add a little decoration to your altar, as well as give you an air representaiton. You can even listen for the tinkling of bells to see if any fae are around!

Bells - If you ring a bell, it disperses stagnant energy, and helps to cleanse a space. Having one on your altar is a great way to keep it fresh!

Feathers - This is a pretty obvious one, an oldie but a goodie. If you have some feathers, you can use them, but make sure there are no laws against collecting them in your area. Alternatively, you can use fake ones from a craft store. 

Empty Glass or Bottle - Air is all around us. Use that to your advantage! 

Dandelion Puff - This is what I immediately think of when I picture the wind. You can collect some puffs and put them in a glass. 

Bird’s Nest (fake) - You can buy or make a fake bird’s nest. They look pretty real, and have this awesome rustic naturey vibe to them!

Leaves - They were once high in the sky! Collect them during the fal season or after a storm. 

Incense - Another well-known one. You can burn this and use the smoke. 

Tornado Making Jar - You know those little jars that you can shake up, and they make a tornado? Those would be a fun water-air duo!

Other: 

Small Jewelry Box - This can store crystals, herbs, essential oils, etc. I use to use mine to cleanse my crystals becuase it played music!

Multi Colour Light-Up Candle - I found mine at Five Below! It lights up in tons of different colours, but is pretty large. However, it takes up a lot less room than a bunch of different coloured candles.

Your Wand - Having your wand on your altar makes it a sacred, special tool. It will be charged by the witchy items you have there, and will feel natural inn the environment. 

A Mini Besom or Real Besom (Broom) - I use a paintbrush as a mini besom, as I can’t have real one. However, it would be nice if I did, and I’d keep it near my altar!

Your Grimoire/Spellbook/BOS/etc - If you aren’t hiding it, you could keep it on your altar! 

A  Fire-Safe Dish or Cauldron - If you water scry, burn things, or just like to include your cauldron in your spells, you can keep it on your altar. 

Incense Tray - Incense can’t be burned without somewhere to place it. Keep your incense holder handy!

Altar Cloth - This ties everything together! It can be switched out for sabbats/festivals/seasons/spells. 

Chalice - I’m not Wiccan, but I use the chalice in my workings every once in a while, usually for water-related magic. You can get these beautiful metal ones at antique stores, or regular old wine glasses at the dollar store!

Mortar and Pestle - For practical use and an awesome vibe! You can keep this near your herbs.

Coloured/Enchanted Salts - They display beautifully,and are really good to have on hand.  

Spirit Vessels - These can go in their own little corner if you like. They could also be the center of your altar, especially if you work mainly with spirits.  

Tarot/Other Cartomancy Cards - Find a nook for your cards to be kept safe and clean. They will be charged by the other objects all around it, which makes it an awesome idea to have on your altar. 

Scrying Mirror - Make this the main attraction, or perhaps just a piece of the puzzle. If you have an ornate mirror, it could be a very drawing part of your altar! 

Crystal Ball - Like the scrying mirror, it could be a background piece or the focal point. 

Runes - If you cast runes, you can keep your bag or box of them on or near your altar. 

Other Divination Tools - You cans store these, or just la them throughout your altar. Whatever you choose, having your tools close by will be awesome! 

Twig Shapes - You can make sigils out of twigs and hot glue! Add a ribbon or piece of twin in the shape of a loop, and you can hang them above your altar as decoration and as a little energy booster!

Circle (Embroidery Hoop) - I know most people use salt to cast circles, but I actually use an embroidery hoop. I cast one around myself, and one around the items I am working with (ex: what’s in the hoop).

Knife - If you use a ritual or practical knife in your workings, it’s good to have on hand. I can’t have one, but I like my wand better anyway, personally. 

Fae Garden - You’ll have to have plenty of sunlight near your altar for this one, but it will definitely be fun to have some Fae living on your altar!

i can recognize white people as a whole have systemically oppressed POC in america, which is where i live 

most people when they make white people jokes only mean the shitty white people and i am not a shitty white person 

A little self-love spell that you can display somewhere in your room

What you’ll need:

🌊Sand

🌊Opalite for healing

🌊Blue Lace Agate for inner attunement

🌊Beryl for healing

🌊Aquamarine for courage and compassion

🌊Rose Quartz for love

🌊Clear Quartz for amplification

🌊A seashell that is large enough to hold all of your crystals

🐚Create a bed of sand in your seashell for your crystals to sit on

🐚Call the ocean to you. Feel the tides; allow your energy to match that of the waves, head them hit the sand. Smell the salt, feel the breeze on your face. Allow that energy to fill you, washing away all of your doubt and negativity

🐚Place the crystals onto the bed of sand within your shell. As you place them, thank the crystals and ask them for your assistance. You can do this in your own way, or you can use this:

Opalite, shining like the moon, lend me your help, allow me to heal Blue Lace Agate, rippling like the waves, lend me your help, allow me to be whole in my being Beryl, blue like the summer sky, lend me your help, allow me to heal Aquamarine, steady as the holdfasts of kelp, lend me your help, allow me to stay strong, allow me to care for myself Rose Quartz, gentle as the mothers and sweet as her children, lend me your help, allow me to love Clear Quartz, crisp as the winds that blow over the sea, lend me your help, amplify this spell

Thank you, all, now and forevermore

What is a glamour?

Stemming from the old Scots word, a “glamour” (always spelt with the British “ou”, as we are referring to the spell not the trait) is a kind of magickal spell or enchantment that a person casts upon an object, a person, or themselves to confuse, bewitch or obscure the senses of other observers. For instance, a pickpocket may use glamours as a means of assisting in the avoidance of detection, and a secret Witch may use a glamour to hide their spell supplies. Glamours are also one of the primary spells that the Fae Folk use to hide their presence, and also to make mischief and cause harm to intrusive or blundering humans who offend them. 

Why have I never heard of this before?!

Probably because it’s not very flashy and, by its very nature, it’s centred around concealment. Glamours are very powerful, very useful spells, but they don’t involve love or money or luck or happiness and so they tend to be overlooked by most novice or self-taught Witches. They’re also quite hard to perfect, and so many more experienced Witches give up before they have mastered them.

They are simultaneously very simple spells to perform, but very difficult to perfect, as they require significant effort of Will and a lot of practice but if you achieve a true glamour it can be one of the most powerful spells in any Witch’s arsenal. It’s also worth noting, however, that glamours do not conceal things from machines. Machines like metal detectors, security cameras and proximity detectors don’t have minds, and as such they cannot be fooled by magick that affects the mind and how the brain perceives senses. They also work poorly on animals, especially cats. Do not try to fool a cat with a glamour. Dogs are often confused by glamours, but generally see through them with time, and snakes and lizards are completely immune as far as I can tell (since their minds are not concerned with things that glamours affect).

OK, but how do I cast a glamour?

The first step is, as with all spells, to decide to do it. Decide “I am going to cast a glamour”. Know it in your soul, know that what you will do is magick, it is a glamour, and that it’s purpose is to hide yourself. Glamours on yourself are generally the easiest to start with, because they are the easiest kind with which to tell when something needs improving. 

Secondly, you must visualise strongly - and I mean REALLY strongly, let it consume your being - the purpose of the glamour. Fill yourself with the knowledge how how it will work, what it will do, how it will work. If you are looking for a glamour of imperception, whereby you attempt to make yourself hard to see by convincing the minds of people around you that you are utterly uninteresting and forgettable, fill yourself with that. Let to complete and utter truth of that ring through your head; 

“I am forgettable, I’m not even here. You don’t remember me, I’m utterly boring, I’m just another part of the background. Everything about me is empty and dull. There is nothing here”

And similar such truths. Let your Willpower make them true, let their truth fill the world around you through the strength of your visualisation.

Thirdly, sustain it. This is the hardest step, but a glamour will only last for as long as it is sustained and remembered. If you are visualising a glamour on something that moves or changes (such as yourself) this can involve literally constant reinforcement - never ever stop thinking those reinforcing statements and pouring all your Willpower into them. For objects that are more static, for instance a chest containing spell supplies, this can simply involve a period of refreshment every evening whereby you place your hands upon it and refresh the enchantment you’ve placed upon the chest, reminding it of how completely ignorable and boring it is, reminding it that nobody will open it because nobody will care enough to try, that nobody will notice it because it’s so dull it’s not even there. 

That seems REALLY hard, is there a simpler way?

The short answer is, no. This is why glamours are often quite unpopular - despite their obvious power and usefulness, the sheer effort of Will that goes into the construction of a glamour, and the amount of practice you need to get really good, can scare off a lot of Witches from truly persisting. Those who need glamours are often the only ones who are really any good at them - the best glamour-caster I have ever known developed her skill during her life as a pickpocket, when she used glamours to avoid getting caught. The simple fact that she has no criminal record attests to their efficacy! But, it took her a very long time to get that good, and most Witches simply don’t care enough to try.

However, I urge you to do so! It’s such a rewarding skill, even if only so that you can be the undisputed champion of paintball and laser tag in your friend group because nobody ever sees you in the shadows. 

So there you are! The ancient, powerful, and mostly-overlooked art of glamours! I hope this helped all you lovely Witches!

Tarot Basics

What are tarot cards?

Tarot is a form of divination involving a deck of cards, not to be mistaken with Oracle cards. 

One major difference between tarot and oracle cards is that a large majority of tarot decks base their designs and meanings on the Rider Waite tarot deck while oracle cards do not. 

Rider Waite decks have 78 total cards, 22 Major Arcana cards and 56 Minor Arcana cards. 

Because the patent on the Rider Waite deck has ended, many companies and independent artists have designed their own decks using the Rider Waite deck as a base. You’re bound to find one that suits your tastes!

Nearly all decks will either be an original Rider Waite or designed around Rider Waite. 

Major and Minor Arcana

The Major Arcana consists of 22 journey related cards such as the Magician, the Empress, the Devil, the Moon, the Tower, etc. 

The Minor Arcana consists of four suits: Cups, Pentacles, Swords, and Wands. 

Each suit has an Ace (1) and 2-10, as well as a Page, Knight, Queen, and King. Much like a deck of playing cards!

ex. Ace of Swords, Nine of Wands, Page of Cups, King of Pentacles, etc. 

Each card has its own individual meaning, and another, related, meaning when the card appears upside down. 

You can choose not to read reversed cards, sometimes called “reversals,” at the beginning, but most readers do eventually. 

Do not try and memorize the meaning of each card like flashcards. 

You’ll learn them as you use your deck, and possibly create your own meanings based on the art your deck has!

Tarot Card Keywords (Printable PDF from Biddy Tarot)

Links to meanings and extra details: Major Arcana | Cups | Pentacles | Swords | Wands

How to Read Tarot Cards

The most common divining method when using tarot cards is shuffling them face down then selecting certain cards to be turned face up and read. 

Some people prefer flipping over the cards at the top of the stack. Others prefer fanning them out and selecting whichever ones call to them. 

It’s up to whether you want to predesignate certain card positions or disregard the order the cards appear. 

ex: card 1 represents past, card 2 represents present, card 3 represents future; or card 1 and card 2 are next to each other so they are related

You don’t always have to do one or the other. You can ignore card position and only read them when it seems relevant. 

ex. card 1 shows good luck and card 2 shows love, maybe it means good luck in love

Sometimes, when you’re shuffling, a card will fall or “jump” out of the deck. You can read those! 

Ultimately, your goal is to create a story or explanation with the cards that appear. This is why Yes/No questions don’t always work. 

What to Ask Tarot - How to make your Yes/No question into a question better suited to tarot + common examples! tldr: Make your Yes/No question into a how/what/why question.

 Final Tips

It will take practice! 

Start with pre-made tarot spreads:

Daily Tarot Spread

Let the Planets Align Tarot Spread  (popular one!)

Relationship Check-In Tarot Spread

Calm Waters Ahead (future) Tarot Spread

Star-Crossed Lovers Tarot Spread

Draw a tarot card every morning.

Cleanse your deck when you get it! (With sage smoke, under a full moon, meditation, crystals)

Get a more experienced tarot reader to do a reading for you!

I do Pay What You Can tarot readings where I explain each card and how it relates to your situation. 

Sleep with your deck under your pillow or near you.

Carry your deck around.

Give readings to your friends for practice.

Contrary to what some readers say, your tarot deck does not need to be a gift from someone. It can be a gift from you to you!

This post is 100% UPG (unverified personal gnosis), meaning that while other people may also do it - I came up with these methods myself and don’t claim that they are the only way to do it!

Spirit work:

Animal bones are a great way to connect to the spirit of that animal.

I typically do this by smoke cleansing the bone and myself, making the lighting dim and using my energy + intuition to connect me with the animal’s spirit/it’s past.

Holding energy:

I’ve found that bones are great at holding energy in a way that is long-lasting and doesn’t need to be recharged often.

It is powerful and transmits the energy with strength and subtlety.

I use water or soil to aid me, and while holding the bones in my hands, fill them with energy.

Using the animal’s energy:

Once I’ve established a bond with the animal’s spirit and feel comfortable with it, I will use the animal’s energy to aid me.

Some examples…

Deer bones for things like finding my way, moving quietly, awareness.

Antlers for strength, standing my ground, being intimidating.

Rodent bones for having a low profile, and more specific correspondences based off each species.

This involves either holding them and absorbing the energy or carrying them with me in a little pouch or bottle.

Using as wards:

Once I’m confident the bones are cleansed and able to hold energy, I perform a ritual to make them part of my wards.

It usually involves some combo of sigils, smoke cleansing, herbs, and the elements.

I then bury the bones or hang them in my room or the trees. (I make natural cordage if I hang them in the trees, when it breaks it shows I need to redo that part of my wards).

Connecting to their home:

As a nature-loving chronically ill person, I often am trapped inside.

I’ll use bones to transport me to where they laid before I found them or where their animal frequented usingvisualization.

Other ideas:

I do not do these, but they’re worth mentioning!

“Throwing the bones” divination.

Making a bone into a wand.

Using as a sigil amplifier.

Enchant them.

Use to connect to deities.

Utilize correspondences/energy for curses.

Because everyone gets sick, even witches! Witchcraft does not replace proper medical care, and please be cautious when using herbs and do proper research*

Teas and potions:

Sore throat potion

Sore throat sage tea

Cough/cold tea

Mama’s cold curing tea

Cold banishing potion

Feel better tea spell

Sick witch’s brew

Flu and cold buster

Soothing tummy tea

Vitamin C healing potion

Syrups:

Easy DIY cough syrup

Soothing lemon cough syrup

Simple elderberry syrup

Magic cold syrup

Food:

Swamp’s immunity boosting noodles

Faye’s patchwork soup

“I am not getting sick!” broth

Spells:

Simple sickness spell

Simple healing spell

All-purpose recovery spell

Christian witch healing spell

Healing/cleansing spell bottle

Bath magic:

Anti-nausea bath

Healing milk bath

Healing bath

Shower meditation

Odds and ends:

Cold and flu remedies

Lil’ witch tips for sickness

Immune system sigils

Herbs for a sick witch

Onions

Coriander seeds

Eucalyptus 

Basil

*Resources for herbal interactions:

U.S Department of Health and Human Services

AAFP

Potential Herb-Drug Interaction Chart

Checking for Possible Herb-Drug Interactions

WebMD

Crystals for Healing

Agate / Amethyst / Aqua Aura / Aventurine / Azurite / Bloodstone / Calcite / Chrysoprase / Cornelian / Fluorite / Haematite / Iron Pyrite / Jasper / Jet / Lapis Lazuli / Quartz (Clear) / Sodalite / Sugilite / Tourmaline / Turquoise

Crystals for Strength

Agate / Amber / Bloodstone / Blue John / Diamond / Kyanite / Scapolite / Unakite

Crystals for Love

Agate / Amber / Aquamarine / Beryl / Chrysocolla / Chrysoprase / Diopside / Garnet / Lapis Lazuli / Malachite / Moonstone / Quartz (Rose) / Rhodochrosite / Sapphire / Tourmaline / Turquoise

Crystals for Protection

Agate / Amber / Blue Coral / Carnelian / Citrine / Jasper / Jet / Lapis Lazuli / Leucite / Malachite / Obsidian / Onyx / Peridot / Quartz / Ruby / Sapphire / Sulphur / Tigers Eye / Turquoise

Crystals for Luck

Amber / Aventurine / Jet / Tigers Eye / Turquoise

Crystals for Psychism

Amethyst / Aquamarine / Aventurine / Azurite / Calcite / Carnelian / Citrine / Emerald / Geode / Jet / Lapis Lazuli / Quartz  / Sugilite / Tigers Eye / Turquoise

Crystals for Peace

Amethyst / Aquamarine / Aventurine / Calcite / Carnelian / Chrysocolla / Malachite / Obsidian / Sodalite / Tourmaline

Crystals for Happiness/Optimism

Amethyst / Dolomite / Goldstone / Malachite / Quartz (Rose)

Crystals for Divination

Azurite / Haematite / Jet / Obsidian / Tigers Eye

Crystals for Wisdom

Chrysocolla / Hornblende / Lapis Lazuli / Sodalite / Sugilite

Crystals for Wealth

Aventurine / Bloodstone / Calcite / Lapis Lazuli / Peridot / Ruby / Tigers Eye / Tourmaline / Turquoise

Crystals for Clarity

Amazonite / Tiger Iron / Zircon

Crystals for Meditation

Azurite / Celestite / Dioptase / Eilat Stone / Fluorite / Larimar / Moss Agate / Quartz (Snow) / Serpentine / Sodalite / Thulite / Variscite / Wollastonite

Crystals for Friendship

Chrysoprase / Jade / Rhodochrosite / Turquoise / Vanadinite / Verdite

Crystals for Confidence

Astrophyllite / Bloodstone / Cerrusite / Corundum / Danburite / Sodalite /Spessartine / Tourmaline

Crystals for Imagination

INFP || Slytherin || Chaotic evil || Non-binary || Pisces

This post is dedicated to the bees, make sure you do your part to save the bees! 

Facts to increase your love for bees:

They have personalities.

They can recognize human faces.

Their honey contains all the substances needed to sustain life.

Eating Honey can make you smarter.

Honeybees can only sting once.

They beat their wings up to 200 times per second.

Honeybees are the only insects that produce food for humans.

Bees don’t sleep.

All worker bees are female.

Ways to attract bees:

Plant flowers that attract bees.

Build a bee houses.

Place bee waterers and bee baths around your garden.

Do not use pesticides or herbicides of any kind.

Plants that attract bees:

Bee balm

Lavender

Crocus

Snow Drop

Wildflowers/Any native species

Catmint

Borage

Anise hyssop

Heliotrope

Sunflower

Oregano

Yarrow

Coneflower

Black eyed susan

Asters

Goldenrod

Foxglove

Marigold

Pansies

Sweet peas

Nasturtiums

Bee folklore:

It is unlucky to kill bees.

Believed to have the knowledge of the future and all secrets. 

If a bee lands on your hand, it suggests money is on it’s way.

If a bee lands on someones head, they will become successful in life. 

If a bee flies into a home, it means either good luck or a stranger is on their way. If you kill the bee it means the stranger will be bringing bad news.

Seeing a single bee will bring luck.

Bees buzzing around a child’s head foretells a happy, successful life.

Bee mythology:

Ancient Egyptian pharaohs used the bee as their royalty symbol. They believed honey bees were born from the tears of the sun God, Ra. To the Egyptians, bees represented resurrection and protected against evil spirits. 

Druids believed that bees represented the sun, the Goddess, celebration, and community.

The Greeks thought that a babies whose lips where touched by a bee would become a great poet or a great speaker. In ancient Greece it was also thought that they symbolized industry, hard work, messengers of the dead, and obedience. Honey was often used as an offering to their Gods. They also believed bees were the surviving souls of the priestesses who served the Goddess Aphrodite. 

They have been seen as a symbol of sacredness and could be associated with the Great Mother or Divine feminine. The Mother can be symbolized as the queen bee. 

In Celtic mythology honey bees had great wisdom and thought to be messengers between worlds. Honey was sacred and used in rituals.

In some cultures they can be associated with purity, health, and wealth. Some also believed bees were a symbol of the human soul.

The druids believed that bees symbolized the sun, the goddess, celebration, and community.

Deities associated with bees and honey:

Aphrodite

Ra

Vishnu

Pan

Vishnu

Cybele

Mellona

Melissa (Melisae)

Neith

Apollo

Artemis

Freya

Thor

Demeter

Bees in Magick:

Bees are closely associated with the fae and their presence in gardens which indicates blessings of fae. Encourage the bees, by putting up bee houses, hives, planting bee-friendly plants and waterers and not using pesticides. Thus, encouraging the blessings from the fae, while harming bees can anger them and cause them to seek revenge. 

The symbol of a bee can be used to seal a spell with sweetness for one who appreciates good will and a sting for one who takes it for granted or doesn’t keep his end of the bargain. 

Honey stirred into your tea can ‘sweeten’ your day. 

Honey is used often in magick to sweeten a situation.

Anointing your lips with honey will make your words sound sweeter. 

Bees in your dreams:

May be a good omen.

Bees in your dreams may be telling you to take a look at your social networks. They may be pointing toward a desire for more harmonious and functional relationships, or celebrating the ones you already have.

A visit from a bee in a dream may also be notifying you that a friend or family member needs to speak with you. You will know as this person will also pop into your mind somehow. It means call them or perhaps, that you will hear from them soon.

Dreaming of a beehive usually relates to the home and family or your business and coworkers. A happy, buzzing hive means a happy, buzzing home. It may foretell incoming abundance, and fruitful times ahead. If the bees are swarming around the hive, rather than working in it, proceed with caution. There is a lack of harmony that is interfering with productivity.

A swarm of bees may indicate that you feel that a group of people upon whose cooperation you rely is becoming chaotic and out of control. Perhaps the need to balance your own interactions with your different business and social groups for your own sanity.

Beehives bring to mind abundance and prosperity: bees seem to work hard and are rewarded by flowing stores of honey. An empty beehive, then, represents the opposite: lost opportunity and financial misfortune.

A beehive can also represent a home. The fullness or emptiness of the beehive may indicate unconscious feelings about family life, marriage, children, or the house itself. Honey may represent your property or belongings.

A beehive on fire or burned bees are often interpreted depending on your emotional and physical condition. Burned bees may mean you are overcoming fear and want to take control of life and anger, are you’re progressing through life with more confidence without any fear of obstacles. Burned beehives can also mean you have lost something precious, like money, a relationship, or some valuable information that you’ve forgotten or ignored.

If a bee or a swarm of bees is chasing you in dream, it may mean there is some unsettled business or a memory that haunts you. Make sure you let it go from your mind or deal with it in order to avoid these bees.

If you dream about getting a bee sting then something may be bothering you, or you have a persistent annoyance in your life. Concerns about your relationship, career, finance, or some unknown issue is bugging your subconscious mind. Find out what it is and sort it out.

Magickal uses for Honey:

Can be used in binding spells to symbolically stick things together.

Used for offerings to fae and deities.

Can sweeten a person or a situation.

 Honey is sacred to Aphrodite.

Can be used in spells corresponding to purification, health, love, happiness, spirituality, wisdom, good fortune, fertility, 

Use certain types of honey that corresponded with your spell.

Bathe in warm water and honey to attract love.

A dish filled with honey can attract angels and beneficial spirits.

Do your part to save the bees they are an important part of our life and in our magick practices. 

May the moon light your path!

==Moonlight Academy==