Morgan - dragonfly Witch

Disclaimer:

As these are based on my fam's Traditional Khmer beliefs and practices, what your family does may vary. The following practices mentioned are a mix of local beliefs, along with historical influences from Hinduism and Buddhism. A simple barrier and protective ward from our great-godfather. This is in relation to spirits, ghosts and the third eye.

A Quick Family Oral Story:

My Ba said that during the 1940s to 1960s, people in my grandparents' village would draw the symbol "X" outside of their doors and would sometimes, also have the symbol hanging sideways inside their stilted longhouse.

A few Christian missionaries at that time automatically assumed that it was in relation to Christ but it's not lol

Long story, short----the villagers never corrected them because they were always rude to them.

Background Info

These "❌" and "➕" symbols are an old, traditional Khmer/Khmer-Mon practice. It is interwoven with the cycles of life and death across the spiritual realms and/or the different planes.

It relates to our fam's folk magic and Hindu-Buddhist influences.

According to my parents, these symbols were mainly developed:

1. For the average person who did not have expertise with spiritual practices and/or rituals 2. For folks who do not have a strong expertise and emphasis in spirituality like a "Kru Khmer" (aka Traditional Healer) 3. For anyone to utilize as a simple ward (but not without also paying reverence to the deities and all that for protection)

Required Items:

Our family specifically only utilizes "black residue" and "red limestone paste" to create these symbols. Per their words, anything outside of those materials cannot be used and the way these symbols are drawn have a very specific method to it.

FYI, red limestone paste is made out of: turmeric, cockle shells, water, garlic, chili, lime juice, etc.

But back to the basics, the usage of "❌" and "➕" symbols all have a different meaning to it.

The usage of the symbol "❌"

Item Required: Red Limestone Paste Meaning: Think of the symbol "X" as blocking something out. Kind of like subtraction of energy of some sort. So, family-wise, they would would only draw this "X" symbol on doors, boundary markings and/or structures with "red limestone paste". Intention: The "X" symbol is supposed to act as a barrier where it is mainly to halt wandering spirits (who don't have a designated place to go) from entering the house. This is also to prevent the wandering spirit from attaching itself to the house and also onto children as children are said to be sensitive to spirits. Cultural Symbolism: The lines drawn in the ordinal direction relates to cosmology and astrology where it is in association to the deities who rule said directions, along with the great elements of: earth, water, fire, air and space. Per fam's beliefs, this "X" symbol divides the "universal space" from the spirit as in repelling them but in general, this symbol is commonly drawn and only utilized in rituals and architectural structures. In this context, it relates to balance and harmony as every direction has a different purpose but it is all intertwined with life, spirituality and the universe. Since this symbol is drawn in red limestone, the color red has symbolism with deities and elements where it embodies "fire and life force" Method: When drawing the first diagonal line (NW to SE), you must hold your breathe until that line is complete. Then you would do the same when drawing the 2nd diagonal line (NE to SW).

The usage of the symbol "➕"

Item Required: Black Residue (from the bottom of a pan/skillet) Meaning: Think of the plus symbol, "+" as adding energy of some sort. In this case, protection.So, family-wise, they would would only draw this plus symbol "+" between the forehead and the glabella with "black residue". Intention: The plus symbol, "+" is supposed to be drawn quickly in the event that someone dies unexpectedly, out of nowhere. It relates to the 3rd eye but this is also, especially drawn on children to block them off from seeing spirits. Cultural Symbolism: The lines drawn in the cardinal direction also relates to cosmology and astrology where it is in association to the deities who rule said directions, along with the great elements of: earth, water, fire, air and space. Per fam's beliefs, this plus symbol, "+" is the main focal direction but in general, this symbol is commonly drawn and only utilized on the skin. Since this symbol is drawn in black residue, it is important to note that in relation the family beliefs and practices, the color black has symbolism with deities where it embodies "depth, darkness and the state of liberation". In this context, it allows for detachment from spiritual existence. Basically, more connection with the divine. Method: When drawing the first line (horizontal), you must hold your breathe until that line is complete. Then you would do the same when drawing the 2nd line (vertical).

“I want a Persephone that is the equal mix of pastel spring and dark winter. I want a Persephone that disrespects her mothers wishes, hanging with the bad and dangerous boys, but works in her mother’s floral shop every weekend. Sticks up for every political issue, branded an angry liberal, but is the quietest with tiny animals. A free flowing spirit with a pure heart.”

Of course! I have some spells and chants that other witches have made that I have found are particularly helpful getting to sleep.

Spells

A Spell to Stop Nightmares

Banishing Nightmares (1)

Dream and Nightmare Protection Spell

Banishing Nightmares (2)

Sachets and Jars

Nightmare Protection Sachet

Anti-Nightmare Pouch

Soothing Dreams Sachet

Peaceful Sleep Sachet

Restful Sleep and Anti-Nightmare Jar

Persephone

Greek goddess of Spring, the Underworld, flowers, and vegetation

Persephone was also titled Kore (the Maiden) as the goddess of spring’s bounty. The most popular myth including this goddess was of course the story of young Persephone playing with her nymph friends before being seized by Hades and brought to the Underworld (where in some versions, it is said Persephone is tricked into eating the pomegranate seeds). After eating from the pomegranate, Persephone can only stay with her mother for two-thirds of the year, while she must spend one-third with Hades. During the absence of her beloved daughter, Demeter mourns, causing the life of the Earth to fade.  

Persephone holds a role as the dread queen of the Underworld, which tradition had it forbidden to speak her name. This tradition comes from her conflation with the very old chthonic goddess Despoina (“[the] mistress”), whose real name could not be revealed to anyone except those initiated into her mysteries. As goddess of death, she was also called a daughter of Zeus and Styx, the river that formed the boundary between Earth and the underworld. In Homer’s epics, she appears as the formidable and venerable queen of the shades, who carries into effect the curses of men upon the souls of the dead.

In my personal experiences with this goddess, Persephone is withdrawn around those she does not know, but very friendly and often upbeat with those she is friends with. She is often quite gentle and compassionate, although serious and stern when need be. Persephone manages to come across as both youthful and deeply wise. She enjoys helping those who are in need and being able to lend them advice, though also showing them how to be strong. This goddess also manages to be both merciful and wrathful, and is not one to be crossed. Aphrodite and she are very good friends with each other and the two of them were very likely the most feared goddesses of Ancient Greece. 

| Symbolism of Persephone |

Pomegranates

Wheat

Bats

Torches

Flowers

| Personal Associations |

Hummingbirds

Butterflies

Caves

Fruit trees

| Some of her epithets |

Enodius (At the cross-roads)

Agní (Holy; Pure)

Ánassa (Queen)

Anthæsphória (Of the flowers)

Dáeira (She who knows)

Karpophóra (Fruit-bearer)

Kædní (Noble and trustworthy)

Khthónia (Earthly)

Kore (Maiden)

Praxidíki (She who exacts retribution for injustice)

Sóhteira (She who helps)

| Offerings |

Achelois (“she who washes away pain") was a minor Greek moon goddess and healer. She was frequently the recipient of sacrifices in order for her subjects to be cured of their ailments.

updated 10/4/2017 - a masterpost of several smaller masterposts, of nearly 300 different spells organized by type / intent / occasion, plus other resources

all links under the cut because holy fuck this post is still very long

though i do not myself believe in the concept of a “beginner” spell, a lot of new witches often ask me what i recommend for them to start with. here’s some of the simpler lot, that should be easier to perform.

🌟 simple glamours:

shine like the sun - to be radiant like the sun

glow like the moon - to reclaim youth and past beauty

🌟 simple relationship spells:

sweeten your feelings - simple jar spell to sweeten a bond

rose bath spell -  a bath of roses and milk to gather love and beauty 

fries friendship ritual -  simple spell of binding friendships. 

respect jar spell - simple jar spell to help gain respect

🌟 simple self care spells:

restarting spell -  a ritual for fresh starts, to remove old energies, and invite new ones in

stuffed animal sleep spell -  a spell for keeping negativity out of dreams, whether it’s pain, difficult subjects, or people that hurt you.

face wash spell -  a simple spell to promote beautiful or healthy skin.

soft shores bath spell -  for peace and tranquility in one’s life and energy

jar spell for clarity -  for emotional/mental clarity and wisdom 

rose quartz healing tears - simple ritual to heal emotions

🌟 simple curses / hexes:

nox - a spell to end a source of light or positivity

pumpkin head curse - seasonal curse to “burn” those who wrong you

burn your wishes - a simple curse to destroy someone’s wishes

🌟 simple miscellaneous spells:

simple study spell - scent-based studying/memory spell

finding things/memory spell -  a spell for when many things go missing, to help things reappear

rosemary memory spell -  a simple spell for when you need help remembering something 

plant growth spell -  a spell for helping plants/herbs grow and stay alive

pastel stars -  a spell to enchant paper stars with luck, love, happiness

I figured something out about myself a long time ago– it’s only just now occurred to me that I was in fact solving a problem caused by executive dysfunction, and I haven’t been implementing this solution lately because my brain went “that’s a relatively new term to me and therefore a Different problem that requires a Different solution”. thanks a lot, brain.

anyway, long long ago, before I knew these fancy schmancy Official words, the problem, as I phrased it to myself, was such: 

sometimes I get Stuck. I was doing something, or on my way to doing something, and then… I just. got stuck.

“Stuck” looks like refreshing my feed or dashboard repeatedly. or it looks like staring at a spot on the wall. or chewing my fingernails. or picking at a stubborn sticker. all the while, my brain drifts through various unrelated topics I wouldn’t be able to recall if asked. sometimes I can get Stuck for hours before realizing I am Stuck. sometimes I get so Stuck that I go to bed that way (feeling especially bad for being unproductive) and I have to just reset everything by sleeping.

one day I asked myself, “why is this happening? why am I stuck, right now, at this moment in time?” the answer, as it turns out, was pretty simple: I was trying to make a decision, and I got distracted. I haven’t moved forward because I haven’t answered that one question or made up my mind.

let me rephrase this in terms of executive dysfunction: many people have expressed that it feels like knowing you need to do a thing but not feeling “ready” to do it. many with ADHD may also be familiar with the feeling of needing things to be “just so” before you embark on a task- you need your setup to look a certain way, or you need to set a timer, or have the right music playing, etc.

when I get Stuck it’s often because I got lost somewhere in that setting-up process, and my brain took the opportunity to nyoom off into Distraction Town.

getting myself Unstuck is solved, 95% of the time, by tracing my steps back to the original decision I was trying to make- often something small and inane- and then troubleshooting from there. (out loud! verbal processing is totally punk.) 

“what was I trying to do?” 

“was I trying to decide between two things?” 

(the answer’s usually yes.) 

“what were they?” 

“okay, let’s decide. 

“okay, that’s settled. let’s move on.”

and then I am free as a bird to nyoom in the direction of The Thing I Wanted To Do All Along, in the amazingly disorganized, scattered, yet rapid-fire way that I do many things.

so!!! in the case of my first post, where I hadn’t showered for 2 hours? turns out I had been trying to decide what music to listen to in the shower. (another hack: my chances of getting Stuck while showering decrease by 75% if I have music playing to help me keep track of time.) I couldn’t immediately make up my mind, got lost in thought, got distracted, and drifted. once I stopped and asked- “why am I stuck?”-  then I remembered- “oh yeah! I wanted to listen to music”-  and then decided- “I want to listen to Daft Punk’s Discovery album”- I was finally heckin able to shower. and also eat, and also throw my clothes in the dryer.

and may I add I only zoned out once, during the slow part of “One More Time.” :P

“Courage is like a muscle. We strengthen it by use.” — Ruth Gordo