Witchy vibes ☾

Archive moodboard for @campesine ♡

Enchant your morning cup of tea/coffee

Match the colours of your makeup to your intentions for the day

Visualise the water washing away all the negativity when you shower

Enchant your nail polish (bonus: match the colour to the intention, black for protection, red for love, green for prosperity, etc)

Say your affirmations (for clear skin, fading scars, reducing dullness, etc) when doing your skincare

Charge your perfume with the energy you wish to attract

When tying your shoes, visualise them symbolically protecting you from tripping and “falling” into places and situations that disturb your peace

Use music to your advantage, listen to songs that match your intentions, or alternatively, use music as a tool for divination

Some witches veil to keep their energy from draining and to protect them from others’ emotions, but a beanie works too

If you wear glasses, use them as a tool so that they help you “see clearly”

Put your moisturiser on in the shape of a sigil before massaging it in

Child’s pose is always there for you, use it when you need it (alleviates stress and anxiety, helps clear the mind, releases tension in the back, helps to steady breathing, is overall great for grounding, etc)

Visualise the A+ (on your report card/on the paper after it’s been graded/etc) right before beginning to solve your test/exam, it also helps if you can draw a sigil somewhere on the paper, or trace it on the paper with your finger

When shaving, visualise any energy buildup being shaved off as well

If you play the guitar, draw a sigil on your plectrum/pick for an added boost (this works with other instruments too)

Do not litter out of respect for nature and its spirits

Feel free to add more things onto the list

You can do magic any time, any day, but sometimes you'd like a little bit of a lunar boost! Here's how the phases of the moon can match the intentions of your magic.

In my last post, we talked about correspondences and how they can add power to your spells. As a witch, one form of correspondences that you will probably work with a lot is the four elements.

These four (or five, depending on who you ask) elements are the building blocks of the natural world, and everything on earth is associated with one or more of them. Because of this, the elements can serve as a kind of “correspondence cheat sheet” for new witches. For example: you want to do a spell for self-love, and you know that water is associated with healing and love, so you choose herbs and crystals for your spell that are associated with the water element.

Connecting with the elements can also be a spiritual experience for many pagans, but today we’ll be focusing on their uses in magic.

Air

In her book Wicca For Beginners Thea Sabin says that, “air is masculine, light, and cerebral. It corresponds to… birth; youth; enlightenment; inspiration; communication; writing; mobility; and computers and electronics.”

Invoke in Spells For: increasing mental abilities, gaining clarity, travel and movement, new beginnings, spirituality or spiritual development, creativity, inspiration, communication

Magical Tools that Represent Air: incense smoke, feathers (make sure they’re naturally shed and ethically collected!), a fan, bells or chimes

Colors: yellow, gold

Speed: very fast (but the results may not stick)

Cardinal Direction: East

Season: spring

Herbs/Plants: rosemary, lavender, lemongrass

Crystals: fluorite, kyanite

Animals: birds, insects, and any flying animal

Astrology: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius

Tarot: the suit of Swords

Example of Air in a Spell: banishing something you want to be rid of by taking a pinch of cayenne pepper in your hand, whispering your intent, and blowing the pepper off of your hand and out a door or window. 

Ways to Connect with Air Energy:

light incense and watch the smoke curl and shift in the air (an essential oil diffuser is a good smoke-free alternative)

learn something new!

express your creativity by drawing a picture or writing a poem

make a wish on a dandelion and watch the seeds fly away on your breath

if there is a situation or relationship in your life suffering from poor communication, take steps to resolve it

Fire

Thea Sabin says that, “fire is masculine, hot (obviously), and energetic. It corresponds to… adolescence; impetuousness; passion; drive; creativity; anger; force; light and brightness; and transformation.”

Invoke in Spells For: passion, creativity, motivation, transformation, success

Magical Tools that Represent Fire: candles (including electronic flameless candles!), incense

Colors: red, orange

Speed: fast

Cardinal Direction: South

Season: summer

Herbs/Plants: cayenne, cinnamon, ginger

Crystals: carnelian, amber

Animals: dragons, reptiles, lions

Astrology: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius

Tarot: the suit of Wands (sometimes called Staves or Rods)

Example of Fire in a Spell: Burning a red candle for passion and motivation. 

Ways to Connect with Fire Energy:

go outside and spend a few minutes enjoying the heat and warmth of the sun

meditate by gazing into a candle flame

make and drink hot chocolate with cinnamon

eat spicy foods

do something you feel passionate about (especially if it involves physical activity!)

Water

Thea Sabin says that, “water is feminine, cleansing, and healing. It corresponds to… adulthood; nurture; emotions; the subconscious; the otherworld; transformation (like fire, but slower); mystery; compassion; secrets; and the occult.”

Invoke in Spells For: healing, love or self love, processing trauma, shadow work, psychic abilities, nurturing yourself and others

Magical Tools that Represent Water: a glass or chalice filled with water (or an empty chalice), seashells, sacred oils

Colors: blue, green

Speed: not very fast, but not very slow

Cardinal Direction: West

Season: fall

Herbs/Plants: rose, lilac, jasmine

Crystals: aquamarine, rose quartz

Animals: fish and any other water-dwelling animals

Astrology: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces

Tarot: the suit of Cups

Example of Water in a Spell: Taking a cleansing bath with rose quartz, Himalayan salt, and jasmine essential oil to promote self love.

Ways to Connect with Water Energy:

drink more water!

take a relaxing bath or shower

visit the ocean or a lake or river

use a deep meditation to connect to your shadow self

keep a dream journal to connect with your subconscious

Earth

Thea Sabin says, “earth is feminine, solid, and stable. It corresponds to… old age and/or death; fertility; money; stability; building foundations; food and sustenance; and agriculture and gardening.”

Invoke in Spells For: prosperity and material abundance, gaining stillness, feeling grounded, sexuality, fertility, connecting with family or heritage, creating something that will last

Magical Tools that Represent Earth: rocks (not just crystals, but rocks from your backyard as well), dirt or sand, salt

Colors: green, brown

Speed: very slow (but results will last a very long time)

Cardinal Direction: North

Season: winter

Herbs/Plants: all plants are at least partially associated with this element, but some especially “earthy” plants are sage, coffee, and patchouli

Crystals: all crystals are associated with earth, but some especially “earthy” stones are moss agate and bloodstone

Animals: bear, buffalo, wolves, deer

Astrology: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn

Tarot: the suit of Pentacles (sometimes called the Coins or Disks)

Example of Earth in a Spell: Writing a wish on a bay leaf and burying it in the ground to “plant the seed” for manifesting that desire. 

Ways to Connect with Earth Energy:

practice grounding your energy,

do some gardening, even if it’s just getting a houseplant

spend time with your loved ones

play with your pets

donate money to a worthy cause

You may or may not choose to work with a fifth element, called spirit or aether. In Wicca, spirit is associated with deity, which unites the other four elements. In other Western occult traditions, the element of spirit represents the underlying spiritual force that exists within all things. In the book You Are Magical, Tess Whitehurst phrases it this way: “Ultimately everything is pure spirit element temporarily masquerading as something else.”

Because of its limitless and undefined nature, it can be hard to nail down correspondences for spirit. You can invoke the element of spirit to strengthen your connection to the divine, work with your ancestors, or connect more strongly with your own spiritual power.

You can represent the element of spirit in ritual with sacred symbols, such as images of deities, or with sacred geometric shapes.

You do not have to work with spirit to do magic. I personally only work with the four classical elements, and do not include spirit or aether in my practice. However, many witches do choose to incorporate this fifth element and find working with it very fulfilling. The choice is up to you.

When you’re first getting started with witchcraft or another magical practice, it can be easy to get caught up in all of the material stuff involved. Witchy hashtags on social media are filled with pictures of huge sparkly crystals, gorgeous handmade ritual tools, and beautifully elaborate altars. Many spells in books or online call for a long list of herbs, some of which are expensive or hard to come by. For baby witches, it’s easy to feel like you can never be a “real” witch unless you have money for these expensive tools and toys.

This is not true. As we’ve talked about in previous chapters of this series, you don’t need any tools or material components to cast a spell — however, harnessing the energy of plants, crystals, and imagery can be a helpful way to add energy to your work. This doesn’t mean you need to spend a lot of money. In fact, many of the most powerful and useful magical tools can be found on the spice aisle in your local supermarket, or even at the dollar store.

For example:

Salt. Salt is a witch’s best friend. It can be used for cleansing, banishing, protection, grounding, or to neutralize energy. Surrounding something with a circle of salt will protect it [Note: do NOT make salt circles outside, as salt will kill plant life!], and washing something with salt water will cleanse its energy. I often include salt in any spell that I feel needs an extra layer of protection.

Sugar. Just as salt banishes unwanted energy, sugar attracts the things you want into your life. Sugar can be used for any and all attraction spells, whether you’re looking to attract love, money, success, or something else. It can also be used to “sweeten” a situation, or make it more favorable.

Cinnamon. There’s pretty much no positive spell that doesn’t benefit from cinnamon. Cinnamon has associations with healing, love, success, and material wealth, but is also strongly associated with protection. I love burning cinnamon as incense — it fills the whole room with warm, cozy energy.

Cayenne. Cayenne is often used for banishing or binding spells, but a lesser known use is for getting things moving. Cayenne is a very fiery plant, so any spell dealing with passion, motivation, or drive can benefit from its inclusion. Cayenne can be used to “light a fire” under someone to motivate them to action. However, cayenne is a more harsh energy, so I often pair it with lavender or another soothing herb.

Coffee. I most often use coffee for grounding or to anchor things to the physical world. For example, I might include it in a prosperity spell to make sure the results manifest in my everyday life. Coffee is also energizing and brings mental clarity, and can enhance psychic abilities. Brewed coffee is also used in some traditions as an offering for spirits.

Bay leaves (Bay Laurel). Bay leaves are one of the most popular spell components because of their association with granting wishes. You’ve probably heard of the practice of writing a wish on a bay leaf and burning it to manifest your desire. I often include bay leaves in manifestation magic for this reason. Bay leaves can also be used for purification, cleansing, and exorcism.

Ginger. Ginger adds power to any spell it is included in. Ginger tea or gingery food can also give you a personal energy boost. I add ginger to any spell that needs some extra “oomph.” It is also associated with success.

Basil. Basil is very commonly used in money spells. Carrying a basil leaf on your person is believed to attract wealth. It also has associations with protection.

Peppermint. Peppermint is another herb that can add power to virtually any spell. It can bring healing and purification, can remove obstacles and free up stuck energy, and can enhance psychic abilities. Peppermint is a common ingredient in dream pillows. You can find peppermint tea at virtually any grocery store, and many stores also carry the essential oil.

Lavender. Lavender is my favorite herb for bringing peace to a situation. It’s very good for healing magic and for soothing difficult emotions. Lavender is also associated with love, and I especially like to use it in spells for self love. Most stores carry lavender essential oil, and you can also find herbal teas that include it as an ingredient.

With the above herbs at your side, you’ll have everything you need to cast virtually any type of spell. Honestly, even if you just have salt, sugar, and maybe some white candles, you can create powerful spells for dozens of different intentions, from protection to self love to getting a job. Remember, what matters isn’t so much what you have — it’s your intention.

These are also edible, so they can be incorporated into magical recipes for different intentions. In fact, most of the ingredients you cook with every day have magical associations and can do double duty as powerful additions to your spells. For more information about the magical uses of common household herbs and spices, I highly recommend the book A Green Witch’s Cupboard by Deborah J. Martin, which is where most of the info for this post came from.

Other useful magical items that you can pick up at the grocery store include:

Olive oil. Olive oil can be used as an all-purpose anointing oil for candles, ritual tools, or your body. It can also be used to dilute essential oil, or as a base for custom magical oils.

Tealight candles. These small candles are perfect for candle spells. White tealights can be used for any intention.

House plants. Many common houseplants have magical associations. For example, aloe brings protection and healing. You can also grow some witchy herbs, like peppermint or rosemary, indoors.

Epsom salt. Epsom salt is a great base for bath spells. You can add essential oils and herbs to make custom bath salts — just be sure to research oils and herbs ahead of time, as some can cause skin irritation. [Note: Epsom salt is not actually salt, and cannot be substituted for salt in spells.]

Notebooks. Writing things down is an important part of witchcraft. Keeping a record of your spells, divination, and magical experiences makes it easier to keep track of everything.

Labradorite Heart ♥️ ✨