Moss N Magick

This is an 18+ talk; if you are a minor, please don't interact with this post. 

If you are interested in manifestations, shifting, and witchcraft in general, you are more than welcome to check out the masterlist!

So there are many alternatives to weed that are more accessible and healthier than you may think. 

In general, weed is usually full of chemicals, and it is different from marijuana, which is an actual non-nocive smoking herb that has psychoreactive abilities. 

as marijuana has psychoreactive abilities. Some herbs, when smoked, have their own peculiarities; some can help you relax, some can make you feel energetic, and some may even help you with lucid dreams.

I won't list them all here because I've actually discovered a great website that has an extensive list of smokable plants and their effects.

Drawing Down the Moon - Margot Adler

Witches & Neighbors - Robin Briggs

The Oxford Illustrated History of Witchcraft and Magic - Owen Davies

Witchcraft: A History in Thirteen Trials - Marion Gibson

The Triumph of the Moon - Ronald Hutton

War Water (also called Iron Water) is a powerful tool in witchcraft used for protection, hexing, banishing, and warding off enemies. It originates from Hoodoo, Appalachian folk magic, and other mystical traditions.

Uses of War Water:

• Protection – Sprinkle around your home to create a spiritual barrier.

• Banishing – Throw it where unwanted people have walked to remove their influence.

• Cursing – Toss onto an enemy’s property to bring discord and bad luck.

• Warding Off Negativity – Add to floor washes or sprinkle near entrances.

• In Spellwork - Use in rituals for breaking curses, creating wards, or calling upon warrior spirits.

Needed:

• Rusty nails (or iron shavings or railroad spikes)

• Water (preferably storm or river water for extra potency)

• Salt (black salt for cursing, sea salt for protection)

• Cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes (for aggression and strength)

• Vinegar – Used to sour relationships in cursing spells.

• Mugwort or Rue – For added spiritual power.

Instructions:

Place the rusty nails or iron in a jar. If your nails aren’t rusty, leave them in water for a few weeks to oxidize. Fill the jar with water. Use stormwater for aggressive energy, river water for powerful flow, or tap water if necessary. Add salt and herbs and let it sit for at least a week. The longer it sits, the stronger it becomes. Some witches let it develop for months. Shake or stir when using, the rust, herbs, and salt should be well mixed before application.

Here are some simple yet unusual curses for beginners. These curses are low-energy, easy to perform, and require minimal tools. They are subtle and perfect for those just starting their baneful practice, but still pack a punch. Always be mindful of your intentions—curses can carry karmic or energetic consequences. Always start the curse process by protecting yourself and end it by cleansing yourself. Remember to do your own research before using baneful magick.

The Rotting Fruit Curse

Causes a person’s luck, relationships, or finances to decay over time.

Needed:

• A piece of fruit (apple, orange, etc.)

• A slip of paper

• A black pen

• A dark place (cupboard, drawer, or under the bed)

Instructions:

Write the target’s name on the paper. Place the paper inside or beneath the fruit. Hold the fruit and focus on your intent—imagine the person’s life slowly rotting just like the fruit will. Place the fruit in a hidden, dark place and leave it to decay. Once fully rotted, dispose of it far from your home.

The Knotted Thread Curse

Traps a person in misfortune, confusion, or stagnation. The target experiences obstacles, delays, and problems that keep them from progressing in life.

Needed:

• A piece of black thread or string (12 inches long)

• Your voice and breath

Instructions:

Hold the string in your hands and focus on the target. With each knot you tie, say a phrase like:

• "With this knot, I trap your fate."

• "With this tie, your plans fall apart."

Tie nine knots while envisioning the person becoming stuck, unable to move forward in life. Hide or bury the thread somewhere secret.

The Echo Curse

Makes a person’s words return to them, causing gossipers or liars to suffer their own consequences. Their own words work against them—exposing their lies, making people distrust them, or causing them to face social backlash.

Needed:

• A mirror (small handheld one works best)

• A marker or lipstick

• The person’s name (or just "liar," "gossip," etc.)

Instructions:

Write their name (or a word representing their offense) on the mirror. Hold the mirror and say:

"What you say returns to you, every lie and every word untrue."

Place the mirror facing a wall or inside a dark drawer, so their energy is reflected back to them.

The Cracked Egg Curse

Causes a person’s stability to fall apart—relationships, money, confidence, or mental clarity. The target experiences instability, whether emotional, financial, or personal.

Needed:

• A raw egg

• A marker

• A place to smash the egg (outside, near their path, or a trash bin)

Instructions:

Write the person’s name on the egg. Hold it and whisper your curse into it, such as:

"May your life crack like this shell."

Imagine their stability shattering like the egg will. Smash it on the ground or in a trash bin.

The Slipping Shadow Curse

Causes a person to lose focus, forget things, or make mistakes. They struggle with their memory, lose track of things, and make more mistakes.

Needed:

• A black candle

• A piece of paper

• A pencil

Instructions:

Write the target’s name on the paper. Light the black candle and hold the paper over the flame (don’t burn it yet). Whisper:

"Like a shadow slipping through the cracks, your mind stumbles, your focus lacks."

Let a few drops of wax fall on the name, then crumple the paper. Blow out the candle and throw the paper in a busy place (so their energy is scattered).

The Splitting Roads Curse

Causes confusion, indecision, and emotional instability. The target struggles to understand what's happening and make the right choices.

Needed:

• Two twigs or sticks

• A piece of string

• A crossroads or a place where two paths split

Instructions:

Tie the two sticks together at one end, so they form a V shape (symbolizing a forked path). Hold them in your hands and say:

"Your choices split, your path unclear, may confusion follow near."

Leave the sticks at a crossroads or place where two paths meet.

The Ink Spill Curse

Causes a person’s words (spoken or written) to be misunderstood, ignored, or turned against them. Everything they say becomes misinterpreted, loses power, or backfires.

Needed:

• A pen

• A piece of paper

• A cup of water or ink

Instructions:

Write the person’s name and a word representing their harmful speech (ie: “lies,” “gossip,” “manipulation”). Hold the paper and whisper:

"Your words twist, your message lost, what you say will bear the cost."

Drop the paper into the water or ink and let the words dissolve. Dispose of the soaked paper in running water (sink, river, or toilet).

The Cold Shoulder Curse

The person experiences social isolation—people ignore them, avoid them, or lose interest in them. This will eventually lead to profound loneliness.

Needed:

• A small ice cube

• A photo of the person (or just their name written on paper)

• A freezer

Instructions:

Place the ice cube on top of their name or photo. Whisper:

"Like ice, you freeze in place. No warmth, no friends, no welcome space."

Wrap the paper/photo in a piece of cloth or plastic and place it in the freezer.

The Crumbling Foundation Curse

Causes a collapse in a person’s relationships, home life, or work environment. The target experiences instability in their personal life making it harder for them to maintain relationships or stability.

Needed:

• A small handful of graveyard dirt

• A piece of paper

• A black pen

Instructions:

Write the person’s name on the paper. Hold the dirt in your hand and whisper:

"Your foundation weakens, your roots unsteady. That which holds you crumbles already."

Sprinkle the dirt over the paper and then fold it, with the dirt inside, like a little packet. Throw into running water or the rubble of a collapsed building.

There are lots of ways to create spells, from planning everything to the minutest detail ahead of time to absolutely flying by the seat of your pants in the moment. If you'd like to write your own spells, either for use in your craft or as a creative exercise, here are some suggested steps that I use in my own practice:

1) Determine the intent or goal of your spell. Decide, first and foremost, what you want the spell to do. Refine your goal if necessary and try not to be too nebulous. Your intent tells the spell what it's meant to do. A more focused goal may increase the chances of success.

2) Determine how you want the spell to manifest. Decide how the spell should work and what the result should look like. This is a good time to build in a sign of success, especially for spells that may not work in an obvious or visible way.

3) Determine what or whom the spell will affect. If the spell is to have a target, be it a person or a place or an animal or an object, decide what that should be and how they or it will be represented in the casting.

4) Determine how long the spell is meant to work. If your spell is timebound or has a deadline, decide what that will be. If the spell is meant to work long-term, you may want to check in and refresh it from time to time. (Not every spell will be timebound. Many spells will simply expire when they have fulfilled their purpose or if they are blocked or circumstances are not favorable.)

5) Determine the timing of the spell, if applicable. Not everyone uses celestial or astrological timing for their spells, but if you do, look into the prevailing conditions and decide on an advantageous time for your casting. (Please note that magical timing can only enhance your spell and casting something on the "wrong" day will not necessarily cause it to fail.)

6) Determine what methods and materials you want to use to cast the spell. Decide how you're going to go about performing the casting, whether you're doing a ritual or making a charm or just using energy. If you're going to need a ritual space or physical components, plan that out and make sure it fits with what you want to do.

7) Determine the words, if any, which will empower the spell. If you want to include a prayer or a petition or a song or an incantation with your spell, decide what that should be. This is not strictly necessary and the words need not be spoken aloud. (Rhyming incantations are not required, but if you prefer them that way, you can certainly do so.)

8) Prepare the materials for casting the spell. Get all your necessaries together ahead of time. Make sure you have everything you need, that tools and components are in good and useable condition, prepare your workspace, and make sure everything is within easy reach so you don't have to stop and search for things in the middle of your casting. (And for goodness sake, if you're working with open flame, observe fire safety and tie your hair and sleeves back.)

9) Finalize details and perform the casting. When you're ready to begin, try to eliminate as many possibilities for distraction or interruption as possible. Go over your spell and components one more time, then proceed with casting the spell.

10) Record the particulars for future reference and to determine how well the spell worked. Make a record of the spell, including your goal, how it should manifest, the words and components used, the date of the casting, the casting method and procedure, and how the casting went. If there are any additional details or observations that seem important, include those as well. This will serve as a useful learning tool in the future and will allow you to check your work if the results make themselves known.

It's useful to write spells from time to time if the inspiration strikes you, in order to better understand how they fit together and how they work. Plus it's a fun and creative journaling exercise and recording the spells you cast a great way to measure your progress later on.

For additional tips on writing your own spells and helpful tricks for using timing and available materials to your advantage, check out my podcast, Hex Positive, Eps. 006-007, "Come In For A Spell, pt 1 & 2."

(And if you’re enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar or check out my published works on Amazon or in the Willow Wings Witch Shop. 😊)

After reading many classic and different versions of return to sender spells, I've created my own twist on a mirror version of this spell. It has aspects of binding spells, too. It's most useful if you know the person who has wished you ill will, but it's not necessary. This can be used for someone who has intentionally or unintentionally put the evil eye on you, attacked your psyche, has been wishing negativity on you, or has actually used magick to harm you.

Ingredients:

Black pepper

Garlic

Cloves, whole if you have it.

Black salt (incense ash and sea salt)

Ginger

A black tealight

A mirror **a 3x magnification mirror

A marker (dry erase preferred)

Sage, for cleansing before and after

**An image of the person who you wish to return the energy to

** = variation in the spell. It can increase the power of this spell.

When: During a waning moon, a moon in Scorpio, or a moon in Pisces

Preparation: Set up your space to your liking where you feel most comfortable and most powerful. Prepare yourself so you're in the right headspace whether that means grounding yourself, casting a circle, or calling on your spirit guides or deities to aid you. Wearing a black onyx stone on you for protection is also a good idea.

The spell

Charge your mirror

Cleanse the mirror using sage, sage incense, or patchouli incense. Pass it multiple times over the smoke, focusing on cleansing the mirror. After you cleanse it, do not let it catch your reflection. While you work on preparing your candle in the next step, set it up in front of a photo of the person you are sending back to. If you do not have a photo, meditate on the person's face, visualizing them. Make sure you have a strong, clear image of them in your mind's eye. While you do this, sit to the side of the mirror so your reflection isn't caught. When you are ready, project the image of the person into the mirror. If you don't know who it is, meditate on the negative energy you are feeling and then visualize it bouncing off the mirror and going back where it came from.

Dress your candle

Combine your herbs into a bowl, saying out loud your intent for each ingredient.

"I add pepper, to banish your attack,

I add garlic, to exorcise you from me,

I add black salt, to repel your energy from me,

I add cloves, to turn you away from me

And I add ginger, for a speedy return back to you of your intent towards me."

Heat up the candle (on a pan on the stove or in the oven on low heat) so that the wax is liquified. Sprinkle your herb mixture into the wax.

Now, get your mirror and draw in the center the rune Naudhiz/Nyd (below)

I've always seen Nyd as a binding rune, which I am using here to bind the return of the negative energy of the sender to them. However, use whatever binding symbol or rune you see fit. Just don't use a protection rune because that could actually protect the wrong person.

Now, place your candle on top of the mirror, over the rune, and light the candle.

The spell

Here, your will must be strong. Meditate on the candle flame and focus on your intent to send the energy of the sender back to them. Manifest it going back to them three times stronger than it was when they sent it your way. Whenever they think of you with ill will, they will feel anxious. If they think themselves better than you, they will feel beneath you. If they have hexed or cursed you, that magick will come back to haunt them. If they've gotten between you and someone else, their own relationships will fall apart. Whatever trouble they've caused to you and yours, they will feel in their own life.

After your conviction is unwavering, say the incantation:

"Negative energy sent my way,

The mirror reflects, the sender repays.

Evil that was sent to me,

Returns to where it came times three.

As above, so below,

As I will it, so mote it be."

A lot of witches will tell new witches (baby witches) that they should start by learning and using protection magic. However, I've started to see a lot of witches say that protection magic is not as important as other witches claim it to be. Saying that they don't have anyone coming after them or an enemy in real life to warrant a spell of protection.

I think this may also be due to how I've not personally come across anyone really explaining why a witch may want to use protection magic all the time.

Now, it is true that there's no need to be paranoid all the time and have protection up 24/7. But here's a list where you may use it, find it useful, or haven't thought protection magic could be included.

An actual person -- This one is obvious, you have an enemy in real life or on the internet and you need protection magic to protect you from their curses.

A malevolant spirit -- They can come from your windows, mirrors (including tv screens, computer screens, and other reflective surfaces maybe), they seep through floor cracks, hanging onto your coats from outside, etc. Just like how you'd use garden gloves to avoid dirt up your nails being trapped there. Protection magic is just like putting on those gloves.

An energy -- Say you have a neighbour who's arguing with someone. They're yelling and screaming and it can be heard through the apartment walls. That negative energy is seeping into your home and your energy. So it may be worth protecting your home and energy from that sour neighbour's energy. (ever been scolded by your mother and your mood is sour? it's kind of like the same here.)

Your own spell -- Now a self-love spell is probably not something you should protect yourself from. But let's say you're doing a curse. It would be a smart idea to make sure you're protected before beginning such a spell. Much like how you'd wear an apron to protect your clothes from stains when cooking food. You may not always spill your food when cooking, but damn it is it annoying when you do and the stain won't wash off. It's the same with a spell.

Unintentionally -- Sometimes things can happen that's out of our control and it's a good idea to be a little prepared. A black cat suddenly running across the street? Bad luck. Someone got jealous when you told them something good? Evil Eye. Think of it as going to the store with an extra bag for your groceries. You may not need it, but isn't it handy when you at one point do need it?

Protection magic doesn't have to be elaborate or grand or be convoluted. Protection magic is powerful but also extremely simple. All you need is a horseshoe above the door, a little talisman in your pocket, a sigil for your car, etc.

Phases of the Moon

Each phase of the Moon carries its own unique energy, offering us opportunities for reflection, intention-setting, and transformation. As we connect with the Moon’s energies, we deepen our understanding of ourselves and our place within the cosmos.

New Moon

The New Moon marks a time of beginnings, a moment for setting intentions and planting seeds of desire. It represents the Maiden aspect of the Goddess, embodying innocence, potential, and new growth. In this phase, engage in rituals of manifestation, journaling your hopes and dreams for the lunar cycle ahead.

Waxing Moon

As the Moon waxes, it symbolizes growth and development, representing the Mother aspect of the Goddess. This phase invites us to nurture our intentions and witness their unfolding. Embrace creativity and fertility, engaging in rituals that celebrate abundance and expansion.

Full Moon

The Full Moon illuminates the night with her radiant light, embodying the Crone aspect of the Goddess. This is a time of culmination, clarity, and gratitude. Perform rituals of release, gratitude, and reflection, celebrating the fullness of your journey and the wisdom gained along the way.

Waning Moon

Depiction of Yggdrasill by Finnur Magnússon, 1859.⠀ ⠀ More images of the immense mythical tree that plays a central role in Norse cosmology here: https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/yggdrasil-the-sacred-ash-tree-of-norse-mythology

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